Quebec votes 2026: Mercier voters focus on affordability, tariffs, housing ahead of provincial election

Voters, business owners and community organizations in Montreal’s Mercier riding say they want the next Quebec government to focus on affordability, the economy, housing and local issues as the Oct. 5 election approaches.

Tony Argiropoulos, owner of Alphabet Café in the Mile End, says residents want their elected representative to be attentive to the community.

“What we hope for is to have somebody that actually listens to people that live and work and own businesses in the area,” he said.

Mercier has been a Québec solidaire stronghold since 2008, with the party’s co-leader Ruba Ghazal holding the seat since 2018.

But the riding has not always been dominated by Québec solidaire. For decades, Mercier swung between the Parti Québécois and Quebec Liberals.

Jimmy Zoubris, a former adviser to Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante and owner of Papeterie & Photocopie Zoubris Inc., says affordability and tariffs are among the biggest concerns for local businesses.

“I think for a lot of people number one, it’s the affordability, and two, as business people, it’s the tariffs,” he said.

Zoubris also wants to see greater support for culture and the arts, as well as investment in local infrastructure.

“Supporting culture and the arts in this area is very huge,” he said. “Thirdly, I’d like to see them also invest more in infrastructure, because just driving here? I don’t have to tell you the state of the road.”

Zoubris says voters are also looking for action on issues closer to home.

“Instead of just talking about the big picture, sometimes we just need some local stuff to get done,” he said. “I have yet to see a lot of that.”

The economy and tariff uncertainty could also influence voters who may be considering other parties, Zoubris said.

“I think the tariff and economy situation is where some of the other parties seem to be getting a little more steam,” he said.

For community organizations, homelessness is another pressing concern.

Nicolas Quirion, general manager of Plein Milieu, says the next MNA needs to work with residents and organizations to address the increase in people experiencing homelessness.

“We need to be part of the solution and bring ideas that we have,” Quirion said.

Housing is another concern in a riding that includes parts of the Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End. The area has a large population of renters, students and young professionals, but residents say they face very different housing realities.

“I mean, I have pretty good rent, but I know that my friends do not,” said Kassandra Fordeklumb, a resident of the riding. “So that’s a big issue.”

Argiropoulos says the riding contains a mix of neighbourhoods, from areas where students can find relatively affordable rents to streets dominated by expensive condominiums.

“I know that Mercier represents a broader area, but this neighborhood (Mile End) specifically has different pockets,” he said. “So there could be a pocket where it’s more affordable rents, students, roommates, and then you have streets like this where there are million-dollar condos.”

He says the next representative will need to understand those differences.

“So I just think it’s somebody that understands the pulse of this neighbourhood and is able to represent it the right way,” he said.

Mercier is also one of Montreal’s more densely populated and diverse ridings, with longtime residents, newcomers and a strong francophone population.

For some residents, immigration policy and support for newcomers are also priorities.

“What I would like to see is more support for immigrants,” said Jessica Joly. “Not just saying you can come and opening up the valve for immigrants, but also then supporting them when they arrive”

For Elisabeth Torija, a lawyer from Mexico and a single mother, security and women’s rights are important issues.

“For me the most important is security,” she said. “As an immigrant I’d really like to have more rights.”

With the election campaign underway, candidates in Mercier will be competing for a riding where Québec solidaire has built a strong base, but where voters say their priorities extend well beyond party politics.