Ruba Ghazal
MNA
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
Beirut, Lebanon
Political partyQuébec solidaire
EducationHEC Montréal
Université de Sherbrooke
ProfessionChartered accountant
Signature

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.

Early life and education

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

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]

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

Language issues

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

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

2022 Quebec general election: Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Québec solidaireRuba Ghazal14,75553.92-0.58
Parti QuébécoisSabrina Mercier-Ullhorn3,98614.57+2.44
LiberalCatherine Boundjia3,83714.02-3.69
Coalition Avenir QuébecFlorence Lavictoire2,81410.28+2.24
ConservativeEmmanuel Da Costa1,0513.84+3.42
GreenVéronique Langlois8182.99-0.78
Parti nulJenny Cartwright1020.37-0.43
Total valid votes 27,36399.14–
Total rejected ballots 2380.86–
Turnout 27,60163.62
Electors on the lists 43,387
2018 Quebec general election: Mercier
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Québec solidaireRuba Ghazal15,91954.5+8.31
LiberalGabrielle Collu5,17217.71-5.31
Parti QuébécoisMichelle Blanc3,54212.13-8.37
Coalition Avenir QuébecJohanne Gagné2,3488.04-0.34
GreenStephanie Rochemont1,1023.77
New DemocraticConrad Thompson7382.53
Parti nulMalou Marcil2330.8
ConservativeLudovic Proulx1220.42
Marxist–LeninistSerge Lachapelle340.12
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

  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.


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