Marwah Rizqy announced that she will not run again in 2026. Facing education ministers, Rizqy quickly established herself. She has become a voice for the school community.
She experienced the reality on the ground as a substitute herself! Do you know many politicians who live reality instead of taking two or three photos with students and principals? Me, no.
The government’s improvised reforms and broken promises? Rizqy deconstructed them, bringing them back to the reality of the environment. Sometimes with humor, sometimes with indignation, but above all with a deep love for young people.
Do you remember, in 2020, when she denounced the government’s lack of planning to recruit and retain teachers? She called the whole thing “psychodrama,” and she was right!
The CAQ, obsessed with superficial reforms such as the abolition of school boards (bill no.o 40), was more concerned with playing show politics than tackling real problems.
During the pandemic, Rizqy denounced the inaction of the CAQ and the Minister of Education at the time, Jean-François Roberge. Lack of rapid tests, haphazard management of air quality in schools, no plan for school delays…
During a press briefing in 2021, journalist Jocelyne Richer and author of the recent book The sex of power, had then questioned Rizqy on the reasons which pushed the Prime Minister to keep him in office despite everything, proposing to the MP that “it’s a bit like boys’ club who maintains himself, who protects himself.” To which Marwah Rizqy responded: “He is a long-time friend of the Prime Minister… And today, he chooses his friend instead of choosing the education network.”
We can learn two things from this statement: education has never been a priority for the CAQ and Marwah Rizqy has always favored collective interest rather than behind-the-scenes games.
Reality on the ground
Rizqy was also a fierce opponent of 4-year-old kindergarten, another expensive and poorly planned CAQ project. Rather than investing in flashy reforms, she campaigned for public money to be invested where it counts: in our crumbling public schools.
In 2022, she tabled bill no 995 regarding air quality in our schools. In 2023, she tabled bill no 391 to guarantee free special educational projects in public schools.
Beyond education, what mattered to Rizqy was guaranteeing a society where everyone has a chance to succeed.
In collaboration with Jean Boulet, of the CAQ, she contributed to legislative adjustments aimed at limiting the working hours of young people under 16 years old during the school year.
Looking back on his career, I would say with humor that his only fault was his party! Let’s take advantage of the remaining two years to benefit from her interventions and the necessary discussions she provokes on education.
Then, let’s hope that someone will be able to impose discussions on education, while Marwah will perhaps teach at the University of Sherbrooke…
