New Democratic Party of Quebec returns as an option for progressive federalists

Rafal Fortin, the leader of the New Democratic Party of Quebec, has a lot at stake in this election.

The 38-year-oldsold his condominium last spring and moved into a home owned by his parentsso he could afford to be out on the hustings, campaigning for the relaunched party.

"I took a break on a job.I took a loan to live [on] until Oct.1 because the party did not have the money to pay me a salary to do it full-time," Fortin told CBC MontrealDaybreakhost Mike FinnertyWednesday.

It's a long shot for the party towin a seatin the National Assembly.

It's the first time in a decade that the party, known by its French acronym, NPDQ, has appeared on the provincial ballot.

Fortin knows he's up against hard odds and isn't counting on sweeping the electoral map.

Instead, his eyes are on a longterm goal: establishing theNew Democratic Party of Qubec as a political force.

"If we have enough votes," says Fortin, "it can help develop the party."

Every vote has monetary value in Quebec: candidates are reimbursed campaign costs proportionally to the percentageof votes they receive.

The NPDQhas roughly 1,000 registered members,andFortinhopes that gettingvotes in this election will give the party much-needed resources to grow.

"If we want to be ...stronger, bigger,we need votes to have a good office and equipment and everything."

Noconnectiontofederal party

Fortinsaid the NPDQremains separate and independent from the federal party, although Fortin himself has run twice, both times unsuccessfully, for the federal New Democrats.

FederalNDPleaderJagmeetSingh has not endorsed the provincial party, either.

The NDPand the NPDQwere not always so distant.

Until 1989, in fact, the NPDQremained affiliated with the federal NDP.

The provincialparty became fragmented shortly afterwards, but several splinter groups remained active. Some of them merged to becomeQubec Solidaire, which has seen a modest surge in support andis expected to make gains in the Oct. 1 vote.

• Quebec Poll Tracker: QS on track to perform well, but yet to break out of Montreal

A federalist option for progressives

The shared roots of the modern-day NPDQand Qubec Solidaire are reflected in their similar platforms.

Much like their counterparts in Qubec Solidaire, NPDQsupports a basic minimum income and proposes free education from daycare through to grad school.

However,Fortin says there's one huge difference between the Qubec Solidaire and NPDQ: the NPDQis staunchlyfederalist.

"They're running to get a country. I'm running to put progressive policies," said Fortin.

Billing itself as a choice for progressives who do not want an independent Qubec, the NPDQsays it's giving Qubec's 'political orphans' a home.

• ForCBC's full coverage of the election campaign, go to Quebec Votes 2018

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