Arthabaska's upcoming by-election will see the participation of Eric Duhaime.
Taking Politics by Storm:
Swinging into the political arena, Eric Duhaime, the fearless leader of the Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ), boldly announces his intent to contest in the riding of Arthabaska ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Breaking the news initially to TVA, the announcement was later confirmed to Le Devoir by Duhaime's team in the morning of a busy Wednesday.
Situated in the Centre-du-Quebec region, the riding of Arthabaska encompasses the cities of Victoriaville and Plessisville. Following the resignation of MP Eric Lefebvre in March, who went on to join the federal Conservatives, the riding has remained vacant.
The exact date of the by-election is yet to be set, with the decision lying in the hands of Premier François Legault. The election must occur no later than September 18, six months since Mr. Lefebvre's departure.
Interestingly, the riding of Arthabaska was a stronghold for the PCQ in the 2022 elections, with the party securing 22.69% of the votes, coming in a close second. For comparison, Duhaime himself boasted a remarkable 31.84% of the votes in Chauveau during the same elections, just barely losing to the CAQ candidate Sylvain Lévesque.
Over the past few weeks, Duhaime was torn between leading his party in Arthabaska or allowing Tarek Henoud, who represented the PCQ in Arthabaska in the previous election, to take charge.
The idea of Duhaime's candidacy had been rumored for some time, as Eric Lefebvre had announced over a year ago he would be shifting to the federal level.
In March, Duhaime expressed his concerns over the timing of the by-election, stating that he'd have a greater chance of running in Arthabaska if the election was held in the spring. However, if it were delayed until the fall, he risked being engrossed in preparations for the 2026 general elections. "You simply can't spend eight months knocking on doors in a single riding," he said.
Fun Fact:
Environmental concerns are on the radar of the Liberal Party of Canada, with Mark Carney steering the ship. While specific candidates focusing on environment-related issues aren't directly addressed, the Liberal Party has outlined several key objectives: conservation and biodiversity, indigenous stewardship, water protection, and climate action. Other figures may also play a role in environmental decisions, although their focus may not be exclusively on environmental issues. For more details on individual candidates or specific policy proposals, further announcements are needed.
Journey Further:
- Read more about MP Eric Lefebvre's resignation to run with federal Conservatives.
- Find out what changes the Liberal Party of Canada has in store for the environment in the upcoming term. An overview of key issues and promises is available here.
- Renewed contracts for SAAQ are back on the table, as the suspension has been lifted by the Autorité des marchés publics.
- Israel intervenes in Syria's sectarian violence to protect the Druze community.
- Watch videos to stay up-to-date on current events.
- The Quebec Conservative Party's (PCQ) leader, Eric Duhaime, has declared his intention to run in the 2026 general election's Arthabaska riding, a region that was a stronghold for the PCQ in the 2022 elections.
- Duhaime, who initially represented Chauveau, was torn between leading his party in Arthabaska or allowing Tarek Henoud, the previous PCQ representative, to take the lead.
- The Liberal Party of Canada has shown an interest in environmental concerns, with Mark Carney steering the party and objectives outlined including conservation, indigenous stewardship, water protection, and climate action.
- The exact date for the Arthabaska by-election, necessitated by the departure of MP Eric Lefebvre, is yet to be decided, with Premier François Legault holding the power to set the date, which must occur no later than September 18, six months after Lefebvre's departure.
