‘It’s time to turn the page’: Parti Québécois wins Terrebonne byelection, decisively defeats CAQ
Posted March 17, 2025 9:04 pm.
Last Updated March 17, 2025 11:46 pm.
The Parti Québécois secured a resounding victory in the Terrebonne byelection Monday night – its second in a row – further intimating swelling support for Quebec’s sovereigntist party in the leadup to next year’s provincial election.
The PQ’s Catherine Gentilcore triumphed in the race to replace former high-profile CAQ cabinet minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, who stepped down in the fall, as MNA for the Montreal North Shore riding.
The 39-year-old from Repentigny received 11,935 votes (52.7 per cent), well ahead of CAQ candidate Alex Gagné’s 6,513 votes (28.8 per cent).
“Tonight, you are doing me the honour of a lifetime by granting me the privilege of becoming your representative,” Gentilcore told supporters in her victory speech.
“The mandate entrusted to me tonight is very clear: to carry their voice, to make an effort, to fight for them and for all those who, from the Outaouais to the Gaspé, from northern Quebec to the Eastern Townships, see clearly that the CAQ’s catastrophic management is getting us nowhere and that Quebecers deserve better.”
After polls closed and with results trickling in, it never looked like it would be a close contest as Gentilcore jumped to an early commanding lead early. Those results were met by Quebec flags being waved and chants of “On veut un pays” — Quebec’s sovereigntist cry — at the Parti Québécois’ Terrebonne byelection headquarters.
“It is with pride and humility that I welcome the results of this byelection tonight,” Gentilcore said. “With pride because the citizens of Terrebonne have regained a free voice in the National Assembly and that this voice, more motivated than ever to defend their interests, is the voice of the Parti Québécois.”
Far behind the PQ — and well short of expectations for each party — were Liberal Virgine Bouchard (8.2 per cent of the vote), Nadia Poirier of Québec solidaire (4.6 per cent), and Ange Claude Bigilimana of the Conservatives (3.7 per cent).
Gentilcore’s win means Terrebonne, once a perennial Parti Québécois stronghold, becomes light blue once again after back-to-back Fitzgibbon wins in 2018 and 2022. The PQ held Terrebonne from 1976 to 2018 except for a brief period in 2007-08.
It’s the party’s second consecutive byelection victory after Pascal Paradis’ decisive win over the CAQ in Jean-Talon in October 2023. Consistent with polling, the two results suggest momentum in the province remains firmly with the PQ and its leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
Standing beside Gentilcore, St-Pierre Plamondon told supporters Monday’s vote was a clear indication Quebecers had lost confidence in the governing CAQ.
“This result is for Quebecers across our nation who are looking for a solution to a spent and tired government,” he said. “Electing a fifth PQ MNA, Terrebonne is speaking for the majority of Quebecers who want something new. The message sent could not be more clear; just look at the results.
“The loss of confidence in the CAQ is complete. It’s time to turn the page.”
The result in Terrebonne is indeed the latest blow for Premier François Legault and raises more questions about his position as party leader. The governing CAQ has been polling in third place in Quebec behind the leaderless Liberals.
Legault’s party also lost a third byelection in Montreal to Québec solidaire in March 2023.
Before Gentilcore’s triumph was even declared by any news outlets, Legault admitted defeat in a speech to CAQ supporters in which he told Gentilcore to “enjoy” her win because “in 18 months, we intend to take the riding back.” That line was met with loud applause from supporters in the room.
Legault downplayed the CAQ’s loss, saying byelections are challenging for governing parties because it allows residents to send a message about government decisions they are unhappy with. The Quebec premier feels it doesn’t send a larger message about next year’s general election, scheduled for Oct. 5, 2026.
Terrebonne was the only vacant seat at the 125-seat National Assembly. Gentilcore, who was named president of the PQ in 2023, becomes her party’s fifth MNA.
“Quebecers are excited to elect a government that is motivated, that will change the way we manage public funds — this isn’t our personal spending money, they’re public funds — change the transparency in our relations with Canada regarding the French language, Quebec culture and transfer payments,” said leader St-Pierre Plamondon. “That government in waiting, that wants to work differently, it’s the Parti Québécois.”
At issue for many Terrebonne voters was the cost of living, public transit, health and education spending, public safety, and the implications of U.S. tariffs.
The participation rate was 37.3 per cent — with 22,906 people casting a ballot from 61,451 eligible voters.
