New Terrebonne MNA Catherine Gentilcore takes oath of office

The fifth member of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Catherine Gentilcore, was sworn in on Monday at the National Assembly.

Elected in Terrebonne last Monday in a decisive victory against the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), Gentilcore is the first female MNA not to have to swear an oath to the king, since the adoption in 2023 of the law making this oath optional.

Gentilcore was president of the PQ before running for office in Terrebonne, a riding previously represented by former CAQ Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, until his resignation in August last year.

The PQ caucus consisted of four men until Gentilcore’s election.

“Obviously, a woman doesn’t hurt, but I think they’re also happy that I’m here,” the newly elected member said in a press scrum.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve been working together for several years now, and it’s going very well,” she added. “The chemistry is already there. It’s not like I’m someone new. There’s a real sense of continuity there.”

The new MNA inherits a large number of responsibilities, given the reduced size of the PQ caucus.

She becomes a spokesperson for the status of women, culture and communications, economy and innovation, higher education, housing and access to property, homelessness, youth, social solidarity and community action as well as sport, leisure and the outdoors. 

With “people with skills (like Gentilcore), we won’t be moving gradually” in assigning portfolios, explained leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in his speech, making his audience laugh.

“You are an exceptional woman who will have an impact here in the National Assembly,” added the PQ leader, saying that she would “help elevate the debate.”

According to him, “the people of Terrebonne spoke on behalf of a majority of Quebecers who are seeking political renewal, and for good reason!” he continued.

In a “very fragile, increasingly dark period,” this is “a victory for those seeking hope,” he concluded.

The PQ is already eyeing another riding: Arthabaska, where former independent MNA Éric Lefebvre resigned last week to join the Conservative Party.

The PQ has a slight advantage in this riding, according to polls, but a three-way battle is emerging between the party, the CAQ, and the Conservative Party of Quebec. The government has six months to trigger a by-election once a seat becomes available.

Nearly a hundred people were invited to Gentilcore’s swearing-in ceremony, which took place in the Parliament building’s restaurant. The Red Room, usually reserved for such events, is currently being used for National Assembly sessions while the Blue Room is being renovated.

Gentilcore was elected last Monday with almost 53 per cent of the vote, easily beating her closest opponent, Alex Gagné of the CAQ, who received just under 29 per cent of the vote. The Liberals received 8 per cent of the vote and the QS received just 4.5 per cent.

In the 2022 general election, the CAQ received 49.44 per cent of the vote in Terrebonne, far ahead of the PQ, which received 18.88 per cent of the vote.

This was the PQ’s second by-election victory over the CAQ since the 2022 general election.

Prior to Fitzgibbon’s election in 2018, PQ representatives held successive seats in Terrebonne between 1976 and 2018, except for a brief interlude from 2007 to 2008, when the riding was represented by Mario Dumont’s Action démocratique du Québec.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews