Boulerice Quits NDP, Joins Quebec Solidaire

0:00NDP, MP Alexander Bula Rice, is set to announce Monday he's quitting federal politics to chase the seat in Quebec's October provincial election. He's jumping to the Quevic Solidarity Party in the Montreal Riding of Gouon, a stronghold for them. This move drops the federal NDP caucus down to just five members, the smallest. It's been in years. He's the last survivor from Quebec's big orange way back in 2011 when the NDP swept the province federally. Le Journal de Montréal broke the story Friday, and a source close to it confirmed, Bula Rice is formally seeking that nomination. New NDP leader Avi Lewis tried hard to keep him, even looking him in the eye last month and pleading for him to stay. Bula Rice sees a bigger fight provincially, pushing back against right-leaning parties gaining ground, like the leading party Quebecois and the Quebec. Conservatives now polling ahead of Quebec Solidarity, that Gouon nomination isn't locked in yet. The process got delayed and kicks off next week, with Bula Rice says the only declared

1:01candidate so far, though others could jump in. This shift highlights the NDP's tough spot federally, while Quebec's left ramps up for a crowded fall ballad, leaving folks watching how the pieces fall. From your city, powered by AI, this is Canada News Today. I'm Corey, with the story.