Ruba Ghazal (born December 6, 1977) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec in the 2018 provincial election.[1] She represents the electoral district of Mercier as a member of Québec solidaire.

Ruba Ghazal
Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Mercier
Assumed office
October 18, 2018
Preceded byAmir Khadir
Personal details
Born (1977-12-06) December 6, 1977 (age 46)
Beirut, Lebanon
Political partyQuébec solidaire
EducationHEC Montréal
Université de Sherbrooke
ProfessionChartered accountant
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Early life and education

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Ghazal was born in Beirut, Lebanon to a family of Palestinian refugees. She lived in the United Arab Emirates until she was 10, when her family immigrated to Quebec.[2] She studied at HEC Montréal.[3]

Political career

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Ghazal was a founding member of Québec solidaire in 2006, and was the party's candidate for Laurier-Dorion in the 2007 and 2008 general elections.[4] In 2018, she was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec for Mercier, succeeding Amir Khadir.[5]

Following the 2022 provincial election, she became the opposition critic for Education, Culture and Communications, the French Language, and the Status of Women.

In 2023, Ghazal ran for the co-spokesperson election of Québec Solidaire. Ghazal lost the election in the second round, getting 49.7% for Ghazal against Émilise Lessard-Therrien who obtained 50.3%.[6]

Political views

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Language issues

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Ghazal has pushed for government policies to reverse the decline of the French language in Montreal.[7] As Québec solidaire's critic for language issues, Ghazal has advocated for the creation of a special branch of the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) for Montreal.[8]

Foreign policy

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In 2021, Ghazal attended protests amid the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis against the Israeli government's actions in actions in Sheikh Jarrah. Ghazal stated that "One day we will look back and declare this a humanitarian crime against Palestinians."[9] Ghazal was among the signatories of a 2021 letter opposing Canada's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council due to the country's position on Palestine.[10]

Electoral record

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2022 Quebec general election: Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Québec solidaire Ruba Ghazal 14,755 53.92 -0.58
Parti Québécois Sabrina Mercier-Ullhorn 3,986 14.57 +2.44
Liberal Catherine Boundjia 3,837 14.02 -3.69
Coalition Avenir Québec Florence Lavictoire 2,814 10.28 +2.24
Conservative Emmanuel Da Costa 1,051 3.84 +3.42
Green Véronique Langlois 818 2.99 -0.78
Parti nul Jenny Cartwright 102 0.37 -0.43
Total valid votes 27,363 99.14
Total rejected ballots 238 0.86
Turnout 27,601 63.62
Electors on the lists 43,387
2018 Quebec general election: Mercier
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Québec solidaire Ruba Ghazal 15,919 54.5 +8.31
Liberal Gabrielle Collu 5,172 17.71 -5.31
Parti Québécois Michelle Blanc 3,542 12.13 -8.37
Coalition Avenir Québec Johanne Gagné 2,348 8.04 -0.34
Green Stephanie Rochemont 1,102 3.77
New Democratic Conrad Thompson 738 2.53
Parti nul Malou Marcil 233 0.8
Conservative Ludovic Proulx 122 0.42
Marxist–Leninist Serge Lachapelle 34 0.12
Total valid votes 29,210 98.91
Total rejected ballots 322 1.09
Turnout 29,532 65.56
Eligible voters 45,048
Québec solidaire hold Swing +6.81
Source(s)
"Rapport des résultats officiels du scrutin". Élections Québec.

References

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  1. ^ "Quebec election: Québec Solidaire’s Ruba Ghazal wins in Mercier". Global News, October 1, 2018.
  2. ^ Stevenson, Verity (March 8, 2021). "For women of colour in Quebec politics, progress 'remains fragile,' MNA warns". CBC. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "Quebec Solidaire names Ruba Ghazal as candidate for Mercier". Montreal. 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  4. ^ "L'environnementaliste Ruba Ghazal pour succéder à Amir Khadir". Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). May 7, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  5. ^ "Quebec election: Québec Solidaire's Ruba Ghazal wins in Mercier - Montreal | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  6. ^ "Émilise Lessard-Therrien devient la nouvelle co-porte-parole de Québec solidaire" [Émilise Lessard-Therrien becomes Québec solidaire's new co-spokesperson]. Radio-Canada (in French). November 26, 2023. Archived from the original on November 26, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  7. ^ "Quebec Solidaire proposes new plan to tackle decline of French in Montreal". Montreal. 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  8. ^ "Québec solidaire wants OQLF to focus on Montreal". Montreal Gazette. March 15, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  9. ^ Yeung, Diane (May 15, 2021). "Thousands unite in solidarity with Palestinians amid violence in Gaza and Jerusalem". The Link. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  10. ^ "Canadian bid for UN security seat unnerved by over 1000 individual letters". Just Peace Advocates. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2022-10-01.