The Parti Québécois recaptured a longtime stronghold northeast of Montreal, successful the using of Terrebonne in a byelection Monday.
The PQ’s Catherine Gentilcore received by taking 52.74 per cent of the votes forged, in comparison with 28.78 per cent for the Coalition Avenir Québec’s Alex Gagné, the runner-up.
The Quebec Liberals, Québec Solidaire and the Conservative Get together of Quebec have been all properly again.
As the primary outcomes got here in, Gentilcore was within the lead, prompting cheers from PQ supporters gathered.
“We would like a rustic!” they chanted, waving Quebec flags in a Terrebonne lodge room.
Voters went to the polls to switch former economic system minister Pierre Fitzgibbon. The previous high-profile cupboard minister in François Legault’s authorities stop politics in September 2024 and the using had been vacant since.
Terrebonne on Montreal’s north shore had been held by Fitzgibbon for the reason that Coalition Avenir Québec fashioned authorities in 2018, nevertheless it had for probably the most half been a conventional secure seat of the sovereigntist PQ going again to 1976.
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PQ Chief Paul St-Pierre Plamondon referred to as Monday’s win a “decisive victory.”
“I’m satisfied that Catherine can be a superb MNA for Terrebonne and that she’s going to by no means allow them to down resulting from lack of motivation,” he informed PQ supporters.
Confirming his celebration’s loss, Legault spoke to supporters at Gagné’s election evening gathering and mentioned what mattered was regaining the seat within the subsequent provincial election scheduled for October 2026. To that finish, he had a message for Gentilcore.
“I wish to inform her to reap the benefits of it,” Legault informed these gathered. “As a result of in 18 months, we absolutely intend to retake Terrebonne.”
The PQ had made the using a precedence with Gentilcore, securing the celebration’s fifth seat on the legislature.
The sovereigntist celebration sits fourth amongst present events by way of seats, however has been atop the polls in Quebec underneath St-Pierre Plamondon and has now captured back-to-back provincial byelections, stealing each seats from the CAQ.
Legault’s celebration additionally misplaced a 3rd byelection in Montreal to Québec Solidaire in March 2023.
The PQ was seen because the clear favourite in Terrebonne, with ballot aggregator web site QC125.com estimating the sovereigntist celebration’s victory chance at 98 per cent.
Legault famous byelections are not often beneficial for a authorities.
“This is a chance for residents to say: ‘I didn’t like that call,” the premier mentioned.
The byelection additionally came about amid commerce tensions between Canada and the US.
Legault referred to as for the vote whereas he was in Washington in an try and dissuade U.S. President Donald Trump from imposing tariffs on Canadian merchandise.
After Monday’s end result, Legault’s celebration holds 86 seats within the legislature, adopted by the Quebec Liberals at 19, Québec Solidaire at 12, and the PQ at 5 seats. There are three Independents.
The legislature resumes sitting Tuesday after a spring break.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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