Quebec votes 2026: Verdun candidates make their case as voters weigh priorities

Verdun is shaping up to be a closely watched riding in Quebec’s upcoming provincial election, with the Liberals hoping to reclaim a seat they held for decades and Québec solidaire defending its narrow victory from 2022.

Verdun had long been considered a Liberal stronghold. Since the riding was created in 1966, it had consistently elected Liberal candidates until the last provincial election, when Québec solidaire candidate Alejandra Zaga Mendez narrowly won the riding by fewer than 500 votes.

With Quebecers set to head to the polls on Oct. 5, Zaga Mendez is seeking another mandate, while Liberal candidate Antoine Dionne Charest is hoping to return the riding to the party.

Meanwhile Coalition Avenir Québec candidate Roseline Olory is also looking to make gains in the riding.

Zaga Mendez says her work over the past four years has focused on working directly with residents and community organizations.

“For the past four years I’ve been doing a lot of work with citizens and groups on the ground,” she said.

Dionne Charest said his focus is on delivering results for what he described as a close-knit and dynamic community.

“I want to get results for Verdun,” he said.

Olory, meanwhile, said she is approaching the campaign differently from traditional politicians, highlighting her background as a scientist and researcher.

“I’m not a traditional politician. I don’t have that profile. I’m a scientist and a researcher, and for me, concrete results are something that is important,” she said.

Housing a top concern

Housing emerged as a common priority among the candidates.

Dionne Charest said more affordable and social housing needs to be built, while Olory also identified affordable housing as a key concern.

Zaga Mendez pointed to rising rents, saying increases well beyond typical rent hikes are making it increasingly difficult for some Verdun residents to remain in their homes.

Residents echoed those concerns, while also highlighting poverty, children’s parks and the cost of commercial space.

Robert Mathieu said helping people struggling financially should be a priority. “It’s an important thing to help the poor in Verdun, because a lot of people are very poor,” he said.

Fernanda Sierra said she wants to see improvements to children’s parks, particularly to ensure they are safe.

Riney Chen, who hopes to open a business in Verdun, said the cost and availability of commercial space has made that difficult. “I would like to start a business here, but it’s just that it’s been a year and a half since I’ve been able to settle on anywhere because it would just be so much of a risk,” Chen said.

Homelessness another major issue

Visible homelessness is also a concern for residents and candidates.

Zaga Mendez said she has worked with community groups supporting people experiencing homelessness, but said many of the resources available are already full.

Olory said she wants to continue working with municipalities to find concrete solutions, while Dionne Charest said housing is an important part of addressing homelessness.

He called for both temporary and permanent housing, while arguing that a rent freeze would not solve the problem.

What voters want

For some Verdun residents, the qualities of the person representing them matter just as much as specific policies.

Kenza Dellebouir said she wants a leader with courage and the willingness to make difficult decisions.

“You’re going to have to take hard decisions,” she said.

Sierra said she is looking for someone compassionate, involved and empathetic toward the community.

The race also includes candidates from the Parti québécois and Conservative Party of Quebec.

The Conservative candidate, Lucien Koty, said the party is focusing on a grassroots, door-to-door campaign and declined an interview.

In an email, Koty outlined the PCQ’s priorities, including tax cuts for Quebec families, eliminating income tax on earnings below $35,000 and reducing provincial gasoline taxes.

The party also plans to campaign on a 60 per cent tax cut for businesses, greater private-sector involvement in health care, improving access to home ownership for young people and increasing Quebec’s financial autonomy, including through the development of natural gas resources.

Koty said the party has chosen not to participate in public debates, instead focusing on direct contact with voters and door-to-door campaigning.

The Parti québécois candidate, Elena Kozynchenko, was unavailable for an interview.

With the election campaign underway, Verdun’s voters will decide whether to return the riding to its long-standing Liberal roots, give Québec solidaire another mandate or back one of the other parties competing for the seat.

The provincial election is scheduled for Oct. 5.