PQ’s Alex Boissonneault wins Arthabaska byelection

Third time’s the Charm: The Parti Québécois (PQ) has secured its third consecutive byelection victory, this time in the riding of Arthabaska. It marks a defeat for Premier François Legault’s government, which had held the seat since 2012.

The PQ candidate, former Radio-Canada journalist Alex Boissonneault, will now take his place in Quebec’s National Assembly.

Boissonneault positioned himself as a center-right candidate who wants to repair the social contract between the state and its citizens. According to him, Quebecers aren’t receiving the public services they’re paying for.

It has been more than 25 years since Arthabaska voters last sent a PQ representative to the National Assembly. He received 46 per cent of the vote. In 2022, the PQ received 10 per cent.

“Tonight, we have achieved an extraordinary feat. We have just reclaimed our magnificent corner of the country,” declared the new MNA to a crowd of several hundred pumped-up activists gathered in a Victoriaville microbrewery.

The atmosphere in the packed room was euphoric. Several times, activists chanted, “Quebec, one country! Quebec, one country!” in unison.

“How many people have told me door-to-door that they no longer accept paying taxes and waiting hours in emergency rooms, or being unable to access a doctor, or unable to find a daycare space for their child,” Boissonneault said.

Throughout the campaign, he frequently reminded voters that he was born in Saint-Ferdinand and raised in Victoriaville.

“We’re going to look in the mirror”

This loss is another significant blow to the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which had held the riding for over a decade. In the 2022 general election, CAQ candidate Éric Lefebvre won the seat with 52 per cent of the vote.

Premier François Legault conceded defeat shortly after 9 p.m., even before the winner had been officially declared. He said he took “full responsibility for the defeat.”

The causes of this disappointment? The setbacks at Northvolt and the SAAQclic scandal, according to the Premier.

“In the coming weeks, we’ll take a hard look in the mirror, fully accept Quebecers’ disappointment, and make changes,” he said at a press conference.

Legault was in Victoriaville alongside his defeated candidate, Keven Brasseur.

A caucus of CAQ MNAs is scheduled for Thursday in Quebec City. A cabinet shuffle is also expected soon.

With this win in Arthabaska, the PQ continues its upward momentum, following previous byelection victories in Jean-Talon and Terrebonne.

“Tonight, the people of Arthabaska-L’Érable join those of Jean-Talon and Terrebonne in sending a clear message to this government: enough with the back-of-the-envelope projects, enough with the shameless waste of public funds, enough with going around in circles waiting for changes that never come,” stated Boissonneault.

However, it’s a short-term win for Boissonneault, who will soon need to hit the campaign trail again to retain his seat, with the next general election scheduled for October 2026.

The PQ has been leading in the polls since late 2023. Last Friday, party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon promised that Boissonneault would be given “important responsibilities” in a potential PQ government, adding that he “has what it takes” to become a minister.

“We are the party that is constantly progressing.”

The result is also a bitter defeat for Conservative Party leader Éric Duhaime, who had hoped to finally gain a seat in the National Assembly.

The Conservative Party of Quebec finished second with 35 per cent of the vote. In 2022, the party had garnered 25 per cent.

The faces of the Conservative activists gathered in a restaurant in Victoriaville were dejected.

“We missed a historic opportunity to correct the worst democratic distortion in the history of Quebec. But we succeeded in one thing: showing that, in French-speaking Quebec, there is an opposition to the Parti Québécois, and it’s the Conservative Party,” Duhaime told the crowd.

Recall that in the 2022 general election, the Conservatives won 13 per cent of the vote, but no MPs.

“I know you’re disappointed, I am very disappointed too. But we knew it was a difficult challenge from the start,” Duhaime said.

Despite the defeat, the Conservative leader sought to be encouraging to his supporters.

“You gave it your all, we did everything we had to do. And I’m extremely proud (…) We’re the party that’s always moving forward,” he said.

“A Conservative is someone who doesn’t give up. Then, when a challenge arises, we embrace it, we take a day to lick our wounds, then tomorrow we roll up our sleeves, spit in our hands, and then we come back even stronger,” added Duhaime.

His remarks were met with applause and cheers from the room.

The Quebec Liberal Party finished third with 9 per cent, and Québec Solidaire had to settle for fifth place with 1.5 per cent of the vote.

The voter turnout was 59 per cent.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews