Martine Ouellet enters Bloc Qubcois leadership race

MartineOuellet, who twice ran for the leadership of the PartiQubcois, is now vying for the top job with the federal Bloc Qubcois.

The 47-year-oldmade the announcement at a news conference on Sunday, saying she would leave the PQ caucus during the leadership race but retain her seat at the National Assembly.

The Bloc has been without a permanent leader since GillesDuceppestepped down in October 2015, following the federal election.

The party will choose itsnew leader April 22.

FlixPinel, 39, has already declared his intention to run.Pinelis a high school teacher from Montreal North who ran unsuccessfully in the riding ofRivire-des-Mille-lesin 2015.

Ouelletran for the PQ leadership in 2014 and again last year, both times finishing third.

During the 2016 campaign, she proposed thatQuebec athletes compete under the Quebec flag at international events such as the Olympics. She was also a harsh critic ofleadership candidates who wouldn't commit toholding a referendum in the first term of a PQ government.

In the 2015 election, the Bloc won 10 seats, up from the four it captured in 2011. Still, it fell short of the 12 needed to gain official party status in the House of Commons.

• Bloc to select new leader by April