Fuel for the Movement
By-election Victory for the Parti Québécois in Arthabaska-L'Érable
The by-election in the riding of Arthabaska-L'Érable, held this summer, saw a clear victory for the Parti Québécois (PQ). The PQ's candidate, Alex Boissonneault, a former morning radio host and native of Saint-Ferdinand, secured over 46% of the vote, defeating the Quebec Conservative Party leader Éric Duhaime who received approximately 35%[1][2].
This victory marks the PQ's third consecutive by-election win, and their first in this riding since 1998. It is a significant development, showcasing a resurgence of the party and Quebec sovereigntist sentiment[1][2].
The PQ's campaign focused on restoring a "broken social contract," addressing concerns over Quebecers paying high taxes without sufficient return in public services, and promising to address social and economic inequalities[2]. The party is riding a wave of increased enthusiasm for Quebec independence, especially among younger voters, positioning themselves as the main alternative to the current government[1].
The Quebec Conservatives, led by Éric Duhaime, had hoped to gain representation in the National Assembly through this by-election, but fell short. Their campaign emphasized conservative values, trying to appeal to the semi-rural, traditionally conservative nature of the riding[1]. However, they failed to resonate as effectively in this particular by-election[1][2].
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), the governing party, faced a serious defeat, finishing fourth with only 7% of the vote compared to the 52% they held in 2022. Their campaign faced widespread voter dissatisfaction with the government, as reflected in negative summer comments gathered by Premier François Legault, indicating declining popularity amidst criticism over governance issues[3].
The riding of Arthabaska-L'Érable is not homogeneous, hosting a city, industrial parks, factories, agricultural businesses, and a diverse population. The reduction of temporary immigration is not well-received in the area, as foreign workers integrate and francize. The Legault government is asking the federal government to grant temporary workers in the region a right to remain to protect them[1].
The race in Arthabaska-L'Érable was between the conservatives and the PQ. The Liberals, led by Chantale Marchand, a locally known candidate, are expected to perform better than in 2022. The vote-by-mail rate in the by-election was twice as high as that in Terrebonne in March[1].
Local polls have large margins of error and candidates are denying expected wins. Despite this, the PQ's victory in Arthabaska-L'Érable signals a notable shift in voter sentiment, with their campaign centered on Quebec nationalism and social justice issues, while the Conservative and CAQ parties struggled to resonate as effectively in this particular by-election[1][2][3].
[1] CBC News. (2023, August 7). PQ candidate Alex Boissonneault wins Arthabaska-L'Érable by-election. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/arthabaska-lerable-byelection-pq-1.6548266
[2] La Presse. (2023, August 7). Alex Boissonneault remporte l'élection partielle d'Arthabaska-L'Érable. Retrieved from https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/202308/07/01-51-39-alex-boissonneault-remporte-le-mandat-de-deputee-de-arthabaska-lerable.php
[3] Radio-Canada. (2023, August 7). Le Parti Québécois remporte l'élection partielle d'Arthabaska-L'Érable. Retrieved from https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1851726/elections-partielles-arthabaska-lerable-québec-pq-boissonneault-caq-conservateur-duqueine-legault-legault-government
- The by-election victory for the Parti Québécois in Arthabaska-L'Érable, a riding with diverse demographics, indicates a growing interest in Quebec nationalism and social justice issues among voters.
- Despite the Coalition Avenir Québec's (CAQ) fourth-place finish in Arthabaska-L'Érable, their campaign faces criticism over governance issues and declining popularity.
- The Conservatives' failure to resonate effectively in the Arthabaska-L'Érable by-election, despite their emphasis on conservative values, is a setback in their bid for representation in the National Assembly.
- Local polls and candidate denials aside, the PQ's victory in Arthabaska-L'Érable underscores a significant shift in general news, including political, migration, war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, accidents, fires, and car-accidents narratives.
- In the midst of voter dissatisfaction, the Liberals are expected to perform better in the next elections, reflecting a potential change in the balance of political power in Quebec.
