She is the author of the book/manifesto Bien commun recherché – une option citoyenne (over 7,000 copies sold in Quebec) which attempts to combine the concepts of "common good", social justice, ecology and economic democracy into a coherent political doctrine.

On January 19, 2017, Françoise David announced her immediate retirement as both party spokesperson and as a Member of the National Assembly due to her health.

[1] In 1987, Françoise David became coordinator for the Regroupement des centres de femmes du Québec.

In January 2000, she participated in the non-governmental observation mission to Iraq, and in December 2001 she traveled to Mali with the Canadian University Service Overseas.

[4] David ran in the riding of Gouin in central Montreal in the 2007 Quebec election, finishing second to the PQ incumbent Nicolas Girard.

[8] When asked if her sister Françoise tried to persuade her to join Québec solidaire, Hélène said that the two have "known for a long time that we're not necessarily from the same political family."