Legault hoping Liberal stronghold in Montreal swings CAQ’s way

A Montreal riding that was once a Liberal stronghold is now a three-way battleground – and François Legault is hoping the CAQ will come out on top.

Legault’s trip to the Verdun riding on Tuesday reflects the growth in support for his party in Quebec’s largest city.

It also may typify the serious problems the Liberal campaign is facing in many former strongholds.

“Don’t give up, two-and-half weeks left,” Legault told Véronique Tremblay, the CAQ’s candidate in Verdun at a campaign event Tuesday morning.

“For me the success of Quebec goes with the success of our metropolis, and I have big ambitions for Montreal,” the incumbent premier added later at city hall.

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Political analyst Karim Boulos says Legault is right to pay some attention to Montreal.

“With a population of over three-and-a-half million people, you can’t just dismiss Montreal,” said Boulos. “I think Mr. Legault is wise to be here. He started in his stronghold and now he’s got to move into areas where he might not be so popular, but he can’t afford to just give up certain ridings to the other parties.

“There is no reason he shouldn’t be trying to entertain people in Verdun, in Hochelaga, in Ville Marie.”

#WATCH: “On lâche pas,” says CAQ leader François Legault to candidate Véronique Tremblay running in the Verdun borough. He’s campaigning in Montreal Tuesday, and meeting Verdun constituents, hoping to gain ground over Liberal strongholds.

READ: https://t.co/LgSsdgexf7 pic.twitter.com/wsKmEncDBN

— Alyssia (@rubertuccinews) September 13, 2022

Three-way race between CAQ, QS and Libs

Québec solidaire is also seeing a boost in on-island races – like Verdun.

Poll-aggregating website qc125.com places the CAQ and Quebec solidaire in a tie in Verdun, with 27 per cent support each, and has the Liberals in third with 22 per cent.

Isabelle Melançon is the Liberal candidate seeking re-election. Environmental activist Alejandra Zaga Mendez is running for QS.

“It is very much a three-way race because Québec solidaire has got a very strong candidate,” said Boulos. “The Liberals are the incumbent and the CAQ are going to make a strong push for that. Because in the last time around, it was a very narrow margin of victory.

“Montreal is critical.”

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The CAQ won two seats on the Island of Montreal in the 2018 election but is now polling in the lead in seven ridings in that region.

The Liberals won 19 seats in Montreal four years ago.

“I don’t take anything for granted because you are in an election so you want make sure you’re focusing on going and meeting with everybody,” said Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade. “You’ve seen me everywhere, in the regions, you’ve seen me in Montreal as well.”

Boulos says Anglade’s Liberals could be doing better with 20 days until the Oct. 3 election.

“I think there’s a lack of excitement with regards to the Liberal Party,” said Boulos. “And I think that the Liberals have been trying hard to try to get the attention, focus back on them. The messaging and the platform is a little bit copy pasted from previous years.”

CAQ Leader Francois Legault at Montreal’s city hall on Sept. 13, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Martin Daigle)

CityNews spoke to some Montrealers in Verdun on Tuesday.

“Personally really like the candidate that we have for Liberals here,” said one. “She’s done a really great job. I hope she wins. But again, this is a political debate and I would like to see the Liberals maintain Montreal as much as they can.”

“The candidate who is here for Québec solidaire, she’s really she’s expert in environmental issues,” said another. “So I think that it’s very important that we have somebody that can speak up for the environment, that has a lead into it. And I have seen Verdun change in the last years, and I think we’re up for a change.”

—With files from The Canadian Press