Manon Mass to step down as Qubec Solidaire co-spokesperson

Six years after becoming the co-spokesperson for QubecSolidaire (QS), Manon Mass is preparing to pass the torch.

At an emotional news conference Tuesday,Masstook to the podiumamid a roar of applause and announced she would notseek another term as her party's co-spokesperson.

"In life, you have to know how to listen to yourself, so I decided to listen to my heart.My heart told me that I gave what I had to give as spokesperson for QubecSolidaire," she said.

The MNA for the centralMontreal riding of Sainte-Marie-Saint-Jacques explained that she chose to give up the role in order to be able to devote all her time and effort to her constituents.

"Every day I meet people who have distress in their eyes," she said, her voice breaking. "I meet people who have lost their homes, seniors who have been kicked out in the name of making morecashby their owner,people who sometimes skip meals in a single day."

"These people need me."

Mass, 59,will set asideher duties as spokesperson at the party's convention in November.

'She won hearts one by one'

Mass, a noted feminist and social activist, was named co-spokesperson for QubecSolidairein2017,bringing issues such asclimate change, the green transition and Indigenous affairs to the National Assembly.

She was the party's first candidate upon its founding in 2006 but was not elected until 2014, on her fifthattempt.

Speaking at the news conference Tuesday,Franoise David,former co-spokesperson for QubecSolidaire, said her longtime friend's persistence foreshadowed her tenacity as a leader.

"She won hearts one by one,"said David, describing Massas special, exceptional andempathetic.

Before entering politics,Mass worked in the community for 30 years, often alongside David, defending the rights of women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, refugees and immigrants.

In a speech hailing Mass's leadership and character, Qubec Solidaire co-spokespersonGabriel Nadeau-Duboissaid his colleague taught him "to do politics not only with my head, but with my heart."

He thanked Mass for her years of service, calling her "agreat democrat, a great feminist and a great Quebecer."

In a tweet, Premier Franois Legault said he loved debating with Mass. He lauded her integrity and described her asconnected with the public.

A model for people outside the norm

As for what made Mass most proud,as co-spokesperson?

"Well, it wasn't having done that debate inEnglish," she said, poking fun at herlimited graspof the language during Quebec's first-ever English leaders' debate in 2018, prompting a laugh from the crowd.

"I still pinch myself sometimes," she said.

In all seriousness, she said, she is most proud of demonstrating that it ispossible forpeople outside of what's seen as the normto do what she did.

"No need to be known, no need to be like everyone else, no need to be among the greats already before arriving. What you need is to believe in yourself," she said.

Mass called on young women to get involved in politics.

"It's up to the next generation to take the leadership of our party and to take the leadership in Quebec, to make the profound changes we want to make," she said.

As Massleftthe podium, hugging her colleagues, the audience erupted into a chant of "Manon!"

She responded by flashing the crowd one of her signature moves a heart with her cupped hands sparking even louder applause.