Martin Coiteux has passed the torch to Monsef Derraji to run for a seat in the National Assembly.
Coiteux was on hand to support Premier Philippe Couillard's announcement of Derraji's candidacy for Nelligan, which covers Kirkland, Ile-Bizard-Sainte-Genevieve and the majority of Pierrefonds.
"He's the ideal candidate for the West Island," Coiteux said. "For me it was very important that the West Island still had a very strong voice in the National Assembly."
Derraji, who is a businessman and is president and director general of the Regroupement des jeunes chambres de commerce du Québec, has lived on the West Island for many years.
"As a resident of the West Island, I think transportation is one of the issues and now we have part of a solution and that's the REM and that's why I'm here," Derraji said.
Couillard called him an "economic candidate," which he says is always welcomed in the West Island.
Derraji also some political experience, after serving with the old Vision Montreal party.
His only competition so far, for a seat representing Nelligan in the National Assembly is Quebec Solidaire's Simon Tremblay Pepin.
The CAQ and the PQ have not yet named their candidates.