Manon Mass, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois become new voices of Qubec Solidaire

Qubec Solidaire officially has a new voice.

Manon Mass and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois received the most votes from party members to become the next co-spokespeople of the party.

The announcement was made on Sunday at theirannual convention, which is being held this weekend in Montreal.

"It's a beautiful and great moment for our party, for the left in Quebec and fordemocracyin Quebec," saidNadeau-Dubois, who added it was the start of a new era for the party.

• GabrielNadeau-Dubois,QubecSolidaire'sgreat hope

QubecSolidaire, apro-sovereignist, left-wing party, does not have a traditional political leadership structure; rather, it appoints a male and female spokesperson to articulate the views of its members.

Mass, one of the two remaining Qubec Solidaire members with a seat in the National Assembly, ran for the position unopposed.

She has been interim co-spokesperson for QubecSolidairesince January, whenlongtime leader and partyco-founderFranoiseDavid stepped away from political life.

"I think me and Gabriel with QubecSolidairewill do some great work these next few years and, of course,eventually govern," saidMass.

Nadeau-Dubois, a former student leader who emerged as a household name during the so-called Maple Spring student protests in 2012, ran againstSylvain Lafrenire, a community worker.

'Mistrust' towards the PQ

QubecSolidaire members also shot down a potential alliance with theParti Qubcois.

Nadeau-Dubois described forming a possible allegiance as a "difficult and a tense discussion," but added that he was open to at least starting a dialogue with the PQ, despite somehesitationfrom party faithful.

Mass, for her part, told reporters that the vote's result was a sign of "mistrust" towards the PQ, referencing the divisive Charter of Values and saying that Quebec's future could not be builtbyexcludingpeople.

Parti Qubcois justice criticVronique Hivongave a response Sunday evening, saying thatQubecSolidaire had turned its back on their offer and that voters were owed an explanation.

"Of course, we're disappointed," she said. "Today they have to explain why they are shutting the door to the will of the people."

• FranoiseDavid, voice 'for the disenfranchised,' leaves politics

Party members also voted to givethe go aheadto open a discussionwithpro-sovereignty party Option Nationale about a possible merger.

QubecSolidairefinished fourth in the 2014 provincial election, with only eight per cent of the popular vote.