Darine Houmani-Montreal

Nada Boumeftah, a lawyer of Moroccan origin, is running for the Quebec Liberal Party in Montreal’s Maurice-Richard riding. She brings professional experience in criminal law, penal law, and youth protection. She founded her own practice in 2016 and spent more than five years working in the courts of Quebec’s Far North, alongside practising in various regions of the province.

She became known to the public through her appearances on ICI RDI and Noovo, where she discussed legal issues, making the law more accessible and explaining how the justice system works. Her community involvement includes participating in the free legal clinics of Saint-Michel and HocheLégal, mentoring the next generation of lawyers at McGill University, the Université de Montréal, and the Université de Sherbrooke, and serving as an ambassador for "Big Brothers Big Sisters of Montreal" that offers positive mentoring programs for children and youth.

In this interview, Boumeftah discusses her move into politics and her choice of the Liberal Party, outlining her priorities in housing, education, healthcare, and easing the cost of living. Drawing on the experience of her parents, who arrived in Canada as engineers and had to start over, she addresses the recognition of immigrants’ qualifications and access to opportunities. She also discusses Bill 21, fundamental rights, and Quebec’s role in responding to Palestinian suffering. She calls on members of Arab communities to participate in political life, emphasizing that strengthening their role in decision-making begins with recognizing the power of their voices and casting their votes. 

You have spent years defending individuals in court, and you are now seeking a role in shaping legislation. What motivated you to run for office?

I was fortunate enough to receive an education in law, including civil law and fundamental rights. I have been practising for ten years, fighting in one field, and now I am ready to enter a new arena: politics.

Politics is a source of law, and I want to be that source. I want to be involved in governance, I want to be part of making decisions, and of writing laws. That is why I am making this transition, hoping to represent the best of Quebec and who we are collectively.

Why did you choose the Quebec Liberal Party as the political home for your experience and convictions?

I chose the Liberal Party because its core values reflect who I am, my story and history, and who I want to become. It is the only party that has never spoken against anyone, targeted anyone, or tried to divide people or govern through discrimination.

My parents chose to come to Quebec thirty-one or thirty-two years ago, and the party has never spoken against us. For me, representing the blue, white, and red means representing my family, who I am, and what I believe reflects Quebec today.

I would also add that we do believe in a strong Quebec within a united Canada. That is another reason why the Liberal Party was an easy choice for me. When they chose me, I obviously said yes.

Through your work, you have seen the financial pressures facing families. What would your first priority be in easing those pressures for residents of Maurice-Richard?

I specifically asked to be the candidate in Maurice-Richard because there are many issues to fight for and many priorities to address. Maurice-Richard needs a voice in the National Assembly, someone who will stand up on every issue: education, access to healthcare, housing, immigration, homelessness, and the cost of living. All of these issues are priorities for me.

A referendum, however, is not a question I want to raise or something I want to put my energy into.

I hope the Liberal Party will be in a position of power and that Maurice-Richard will turn red so that we can focus on the real priorities, with genuine commitments and concrete actions that we know we can deliver, even if, after eight years, there may not be enough money to act.

When I hear other parties promising this and that, I think: at least we are with a party that is transparent and willing to take the right action with the appropriate means.

Your party has pledged to increase the supply of affordable housing and reserve some of it for vulnerable groups. Could you explain that commitment and what it would mean for Maurice-Richard?

We have committed to building 100,000 housing units, including 40,000 that will be affordable and accessible.

Current prices can be around $2,800 which is a lot for a family, especially one that may need more space. we want to give more access by building more so to stabilize the offer in the market.

In Maurice-Richard, we have good examples of housing projects, including projects awaiting approval from the provincial government. These are projects we are willing to support and encourage.

They include more accessible housing, environmental considerations, a mix of communities, and social services for the families and individuals who will live there.

I believe this commitment is not only achievable but will be fulfilled if we form the government.

You have worked in several regions of Quebec. How has that experience shaped your views on equitable access to healthcare and mental health services? What would the Liberal Party do to address long waits and pressure on emergency rooms?

This is not simply an issue we have been thinking about. We have also made commitments to improve access to healthcare.

You mentioned mental health. One way to provide services is through telehealth: by phone, through FaceTime, or through other ways of quickly connecting people with support. That is one of the commitments our party will implement if we are in power.

We believe this will help many people access support without remaining on waiting lists, struggling to find someone to call, or waiting for referrals.

Through my experience as a lawyer representing parents and young people in youth protection cases, I have seen the lack of access to services.

There is also the question of prevention and education, which we need to address. I hope we can advance these priorities both through our commitments and on the ground, so that people can access health services.

The poor condition of Montreal’s roads, alongside substantial spending on projects some residents consider less urgent, raises questions about public spending priorities. What would the Liberal Party do to improve infrastructure and ensure that public funds are used effectively?

The Liberal Party already wants to use the funds of “Quebec Infrastructure Program (PQI)” and want to direct 75% of that funding toward restoring our infrastructure, with a target of at least 80%.

That includes roads and schools. In Marie-Richard, we have schools that really need it.

For me, this will be an issue to fight for. I want to be a voice ensuring that the money goes to the right place.

Of course, there is also a question of jurisdiction. We will implement our commitments within the appropriate areas of responsibility, hoping to move things forward as much as possible.

As a Canadian of Moroccan origin, what do you believe needs to change so that immigrants can fully use their qualifications and skills and have greater opportunities in employment and political life?

The first thing I want to share is my own story. My parents came here as engineers, and they had to start over. My mother had to choose between staying home to raise her children and going back to school. My father went back to school and worked extremely hard to give us the opportunities we have had.

This issue resonates with me because I know it firsthand. These are the stories I want to bring to the National Assembly.

The Liberal Party’s values are clear. We want people to find their place. We want them to shine, to accompany and support them, and to allow them to make full use of their abilities here, for society and for the future.

In Maurice-Richard, we already have many organizations that support people and help them access what they need, from food assistance to French-language programs, housing support, help with economic matters, and education. I want to support these organizations and those  people, continue to be there for them, and enable them to continue giving back to everyone who chooses our community as their new home.

As a lawyer, how do you assess the balance between state neutrality, freedom of religion, and the right to work? Specifically, would you support keeping, amending, or repealing Bill 21?

For me, there is no difference between my position as a lawyer and my position as a Liberal candidate or a future member of the National Assembly, because the values are the same.

We fight for fundamental rights, including individual rights and social justice. These are principles I already defend and will continue to defend.

I say “I” because you asked about my position as a lawyer, but the party was also one of the strongest voices opposing Bill 21 and the bills that followed it, which unfortunately passed under a majority government. It needs to be clear to everyone that we stood up against them.

Now, let me answer you clearly as a lawyer: Bill 21 is before the Supreme Court. Nobody can tell you they are going to change it while it is in the Court’s hands.

We wish we had that decision before October 5 so that we could tell you we would change the other bills that are similar to it. But we cannot make that promise now.

There are procedures governing how laws are written and changed. We opposed this law, but it passed anyway. That is why people need to understand the importance of voting on October 5. If they want a party that will fight for our rights, they need to choose the Quebec Liberal Party.

Knowing that these bills have passed, the only way to challenge them is through the courts. Bill 21 is now before the Court, and the decision will influence what happens with the others.

Once we are in power, we will examine what can be done regarding the other laws, following the legal procedures for changing or overturning them, so that we do things properly.

Given your commitment to rights, what role should Quebec play in responding to the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and West Bank? Within provincial jurisdiction, would you support measures such as humanitarian aid, welcoming those affected, or reviewing Quebec’s economic relations with Israel?

The Liberal Party believes in civil rights and international law. That is very important.

Canada has a role to play as an ally in providing international assistance and helping people affected by war. That role needs to be affirmed.

When I see other parties, including the “Orange,” using this issue to make people believe that they alone are the voice that will change things, I think we need to return to the question of jurisdiction.

We also need to return to the importance of Quebec’s strength within Canada. If we want to split so we are splitting the power.

You mentioned economic relations and the question of armaments. I know concerns have been raised regarding pension funds. As members of the National Assembly, we can ask questions and call on the relevant people to appear before us, question them, and work toward better outcomes and peace.

These are things we can do, beyond simply shouting or demanding that a door be closed or opened. We need to think beyond symbolism.

If I become a member of the National Assembly, this is something I will be concerned about. We will look at how we can work for peace, civil rights, and international law.

How would you help strengthen Arab communities’ role in political decision-making? What would you say to people who do not vote because they believe their participation will make little difference?

That is a very good question, and part of the answer is in the question itself. How can I strengthen the Arab community’s voice if people do not vote? Why are they not voting? Get up and go vote.

When we compare participation with Ontario, where it is 80%, why are people here not turning out?

When I meet people in the community, some ask me: “What are you going to change? You are here to beg for votes.”

I am not begging for votes. Your voice counts. Make it count.

People need to understand the power they hold in their hands and the power of their voice. I hope that seeing my face on a campaign sign will help them understand that we have a voice and that they can see themselves represented by people like us.

I believe the Liberal Party, and as members of the National Assembly, can be a voice for all of us. But people need to understand the importance of voting and stop thinking it will not change anything or that it is not important.

More than ever, in the coming election, we need to be heard. If you want to have a voice, start with your own: go and cast your vote.