Independent MNA Marwah Rizqy will take over the afternoon drive-time slot on QUB radio (99.5 FM) alongside co-host Rémi Villemure starting this autumn, replacing Isabelle Maréchal in the station’s revamped weekday lineup. According to reports from La Presse and Le Soleil, Rizqy will officially step behind the microphone following the upcoming provincial elections.
The Bottom Line
- The Shake-Up: Isabelle Maréchal is the sole major QUB radio personality not returning for the fall programming, following a reported drop in afternoon market share this spring within the station’s target demographic.
- The New Voice: Outgoing Saint-Laurent MNA Marwah Rizqy teams up with Rémi Villemure for the 1 PM to 3 PM slot, marking a jump from provincial politics to public affairs broadcasting.
- The Timeline: While QUB’s fall schedule launches on August 24, Rizqy will take her seat on-air only after the October 5 elections, leaving Villemure to host solo during the initial weeks.
A High-Stakes Radio Gamble in Montreal
The Montreal airwaves are bracing for a dramatic recalibration as Québecor-owned QUB radio finalizes its fall grid. The station, which expanded its footprint to the 99.5 FM dial in Montreal two years ago, is shaking up its roster after battling soft ratings in key afternoon slots. While heavy-hitters like Mario Dumont, Benoit Dutrizac, and Richard Martineau are locked in for a return, Isabelle Maréchal has been dropped from the schedule. Maréchal originally moved to the station two years ago and inherited the afternoon block after Sophie Durocher lost her show last year.
Internal data cited by La Presse indicates that the station’s afternoon market share dipped this past spring compared to the same period last year. To reverse that slide, station executives tapped Marwah Rizqy, one of Quebec’s most known political figures, alongside familiar QUB voice Rémi Villemure. The duo’s program will air weekdays from 1 PM to 3 PM, setting up a battle for ears against established heavyweights.
Navigating Direct Competition and Political Transition
The newly minted Rizqy-Villemure pairing will not have an easy path. They step into the crosshairs of a ratings war, competing head-to-head with Nathalie Normandeau and Luc Ferrandez, whose show La Commission kicks off its third season on rival station 98.5 FM. Meanwhile, in Quebec City—where QUB broadcasts via web and television—the program goes up against Jérôme Landry and Martin Busutill’s Midi pile on FM93.
The transition requires some intricate calendar gymnastics. Rizqy announced back in 2024 that she would not seek another mandate in the legislature. However, because incumbent MNAs remain on duty until new officials are sworn in, Rizqy must wait out the electoral cycle. According to reporting from Le Soleil, she will enter the studio only after the October 5 vote. Rémi Villemure—who also co-hosts Brikh-Villemure with Karima Brikh and maintains ties to BLVD 102.1 in Quebec City—will carry the newly branded afternoon show alone when QUB’s fall season kicks off on August 24.
| Program / Slot | Hosts | Station / Dial | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoon Drive (1 PM – 3 PM) | Marwah Rizqy & Rémi Villemure | QUB radio (99.5 FM Montreal) | Replaces Isabelle Maréchal; Rizqy joins post-October 5 elections. |
| Competing Afternoon Slot | Nathalie Normandeau & Luc Ferrandez (La Commission) | 98.5 FM Montreal | Entering their third season in direct competition. |
| Quebec City Competitor | Jérôme Landry & Martin Busutill (Midi pile) | FM93 Quebec | Rival afternoon program faced by the QUB broadcast on web/TV. |
The Political Backdrop Behind the Mic
Rizqy’s pivot to media arrives on the heels of a turbulent year in provincial politics. First elected in Saint-Laurent in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, Rizqy was ousted from the Quebec Liberal Party caucus last December by then-leader Pablo Rodriguez following a dispute over the unilateral dismissal of her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse. That personnel clash triggered a broader internal party crisis, culminating in Rodriguez’s resignation after revelations concerning campaign financing.
The fallout continues to ripple through the legal and political landscape. Geneviève Hinse has launched a lawsuit against Rizqy for 500,000$, alleging wrongful dismissal without foundation. Meanwhile, current Liberal leader Charles Millard opted in February against reinstating Rizqy to the caucus. Interestingly, political ties remain under the same roof: Rizqy’s husband, Gregory Kelley, remains a Liberal MNA and is slated to run again in October for the riding of Jacques-Cartier.
As Rizqy prepares to trade the blue room of the National Assembly for the audio booth, industry watchers are waiting to see if her rhetoric will translate into the ratings bounce Québecor needs. Neither Rizqy nor Québecor Média officials issued immediate public comments when contacted during the summer break, leaving audiences to watch how the unfolding autumn schedule reshapes the province’s media ecosystem. How do you think this high-profile political transition will play out on the airwaves? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
