He was elected to the Montreal city council in 2005 as a co-listed candidate with Projet Montréal leader Richard Bergeron, but did not serve.
Michaud's supporters, including Boileau, argued that his comments had been unfairly distorted to present him in an unflattering light.
In his nomination speech, Boileau accused the PQ leadership of "dictatorial electoral machinations" and received applause for saying, "Mr. Michaud, you were never a racist in our eyes."
[2] In 2002, Boileau argued that right-wing members of Bernard Landry's government should leave the PQ and join the rival Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ).
(Under the rules governing Montreal municipal elections, mayoral candidates may also run for council seats, "co-listed" with other members of their party.