Maria Mourani, ex-Bloc MP, signs NDP membership card

Former Bloc Qubcois-turned-Independent MP Maria Mourani signed a NDP membership card this morning and now says she wants to run for the New Democrats in the next election.

However, she will not sit with the NDP caucus in the meantime.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair reminded reporters that the NDP has a policy on floor-crossing thatstates that any MP who changes parties must first run in a byelection.

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Mourani was first elected in 2006.Her riding, Ahuntsic, was held previously by the Liberals, who continued to fight hardfor the seat in subsequent, closeelectionraces.

"Since one year, I'm independent, andI do my job, I vote, I do everything. So it doesn't change for me. The difference is I have a new family and this family, it's so important for me because I don't feel alone [anymore]," Mourani told reporters.

Met with Liberals

Mourani said she spoke with Dan Gagnier,a high-ranking Liberal Party official, about crossing the floor to sit with them, but that ultimately she decided against it.

Mourani said the party first approached her soon after she hadleft the Bloc, but she wasn't yet sure whether she was still a sovereigntist and hadn't yet found her "political voice."

She says she met with Gagnierthis year, but wasn't comfortable with the Liberals.

"I don't share the same values, I don't share the policies, I don't want to say that, but I have to. I felt like there is no leader in this party. So for me, a party, we need policies, we need values and we need a leader. There is a leader but he's not a leader who leads," Mourani said, adding that she was told there was no need for her to meet with Trudeau.

Trudeau told reporters thatMourani approached the party "a number of times" but they referred to their process ofopen nominations in turning her down. He says henever met with her.

Mourani said she still needed to speak to some people about whether she wouldrun in Ahuntsic. Butwith new riding boundary adjustments coming for 2015,Mouraniwould be in a tough fight in the riding.

Gave up on sovereignty last year

Mourani, who is of Lebanese descent,was expelled from the Bloc Qubcoiscaucus in September2013 over her criticism of the Parti Qubcoischarter of values.

• Ex-Bloc MP Mourani says she is no longer a sovereigntist
• AS IT HAPPENS: Mourani on why she's leaving the sovereigntist ranks
• Separatists oppose Mourani's defection from sovereignty

Mourani told Radio-Canada that the controversial secular charter was a "political calculation" on the part of then Premier Pauline Marois. She said that independence could not be achieved without including everyone, and that it would be "impossible" without Montreal.

Last December, she told Radio-Canada that after much reflection, she came to the conclusion that the federal system is better placed to protect the rights of Quebecers.

Only two MPsremain in the Bloc Qubcois caucus, now struggling under the controversial leadership ofMario Beaulieu.

One of Mourani'sformer colleagues, Jean-Franois Fortin, has formed a new political party with a former NDP MP that they say is "nationalist" but not sovereigntist.