Quebec votes 2026: Camille-Laurin businesses, residents weigh priorities

The Montreal riding of Camille-Laurin has a long Parti Québécois history, and it’s currently held by PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.

But the seat hasn’t always been a PQ stronghold; it’s changed hands between the Liberals, the now defunct Union Nationale, the PQ and the CAQ over the years.

So, with the Oct. 5 election fast approaching, what’s driving voters there to the polls, and can the PQ hold on to the seat?

“For me, it’s more housing and the cost of living. It’s not original, but that’s what it is,” Gérard La Chapelle, who lives in the riding, told CityNews.

“We see people struggling to get by on the streets, in the metro, especially in Hochelaga,” said Philippe Martino. “You see it a lot. It’s as if they haven’t been abandoned, but almost. It’s sad.”

“In our area, it’s really homelessness that stands out first,” added Louis Riel. “We’ve seen what they’re doing in Quebec City by banning encampments and we have them just down the street here.”

The riding, which encompasses a portion of Montreal’s Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, was known as Bourget until 2022. It was renamed to honour former PQ MNA Camille Laurin, considered the father of Quebec’s Charter of the French Language.

And over the years, its demographics have changed.

“When you think about Mercier-Ouest and Camille-Laurin, historically there was a fairly big share of elderly people in the neighbourhood, right? But this has changed after COVID, many more families, much more young people are around town. It’s a way more diverse community than it was even just 10 years ago,” said Kevin Poitras, CEO of Mercier-Ouest Quartier en Santé.

Poitras, whose organizations works to develop projects and services that meet the needs of residents in the neighbourhood, says the population growth seen in the riding is far outpacing the increase in services for those living there. And he expects the population to continue growing rapidly in the coming years

“Folks living under hard conditions, statistically, is much more represented here than there are elsewhere, even in eastern Montreal, or all across town,” he said.

As a result, those most vulnerable in the riding often find themselves among the most socially excluded.

“Isolations, when it comes to elderly folks in town, that’s for sure,” he explained. “A very significant detachment from youth groups towards collective activities.

“Let’s face it, Mercier-Ouest, there’s not a lot of people know about it, right. So it’s a clear objective for us this year to have much more attention towards our neighbourhood.”

For Salah Benain, who owns Pizza Lafontaine in the riding, the neighbourhood has also seen many businesses close – a concern he hopes the riding’s next MNA can reverse.

“Back then, when people talked about Hochelaga, it was really lively,” Benain said. “There were a lot of businesses that were doing well. Now, we see a lot of businesses that have unfortunately closed their doors.

“A bit of safety. It’s a neighbourhood that’s become a little rough.”

Benain also says the hardships experienced by those living in the riding have had a direct impact on his restaurant.

“Things have become more expensive,” he said. “Before, we had families here ordering two or three times a week, regularly. Now, we see them in the system once a month, unfortunately. Pizza has become a luxury for some people.”

“Food security is a big concern,” added Poitras. “Much of our neighbours in Mercier-Ouest are dealing with hardship when it comes to buying their groceries.”