After a break of only four weeks for his first child, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois will this time take three months of parental leave for the birth of his second, at the beginning of December. A message to young men not to neglect their role as fathers for the benefit of their careers.
“We can’t take care of others if we don’t take care of our own,” he confides in an interview.
Already the father of little Hélène aged two and a half, the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire does not hide his guilt for having only taken one month off when his first baby arrived.
It was a few months before the last elections, an important vote for his political party… But it is a “personal sacrifice” that he does not want to repeat.
“It’s my biggest regret,” he said, seated in one of the armchairs in the small family room made available to elected officials and their toddlers at the National Assembly. “I wouldn’t have forgiven myself for making the same mistake twice.”
The parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, with his pregnant partner and his daughter Hélène.
Genevieve Lajoie
This second child, another girl, was not planned. A happy surprise that gives him a chance to make up for it. “It undoubtedly has a political price, to the extent that I will disappear from the radar screens for three months, but when I come back, I will be able to look at myself in the mirror and feel consistent with my principles, my values, up to my responsibilities as a father and as a boyfriend.”
As co-spokesperson for a feminist and progressive party, he would not feel credible not to apply what he defends as a politician to his own family.
“I also find it important to send a message to young dads of my generation that just because we have major responsibilities in life does not mean we have to neglect our responsibilities as dads and spouses. », he adds.
Not real parental leave
But since Quebec MPs still do not have real parental leave, GND will not leave with complete peace of mind.
On paper, he remains parliamentary leader of solidarity and employer of political party staff in Parliament. “I will have paperwork to sign several times during the leave,” he explains.
The parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, with his pregnant partner and his daughter Hélène.
Genevieve Lajoie
Like several others, he campaigns so that elected officials can also benefit from real leave when a child is born. They could then leave with peace of mind, without feeling bad about receiving their full salary during this period from their loved ones.
Ghazal will take over
MP Ruba Ghazal, who will shortly be crowned female co-spokesperson for QS, will take over on December 2 during question period to follow up on François Legault on the government’s actions. “It will open up a space for Quebecers to discover it.”
GND will be back in office on March 3, 2025. But due to the parliamentary holiday break, he will actually only miss five weeks of political jousting in Parliament.
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