Political leaders were issued a directive
In the small town of Arthabaska, the recent by-election has sent a powerful message to Quebec's political landscape. The high voter turnout, nearly 60%, is a rare occurrence for a summer by-election and indicates a strong interest and engagement of citizens in the election.
The citizens of Arthabaska did not just choose a deputy; they sent a message that was strong, clear, and impossible to ignore. Alex Boissonneault, a former mayor of Victoriaville and ex-federal deputy, managed to embody the "local guy" who returned to engage in the election. Boissonneault won a resounding victory with over 46% of the votes, leaving his competitors far behind.
The high voter turnout can be attributed to several factors. The strong voter registration base of over 60,000 people, the greater local engagement compared to previous by-elections, the competitive candidate field, efforts by Élections Québec to ensure accessibility and transparency, and higher than average provincial turnout all played a role.
The Arthabaska by-election served as a referendum on Eric Duhaime, the leader of the Parti Conservateur du Québec (PCQ). Despite Duhaime's ground presence, volunteers, visibility, and unequal advertising during the campaign, the voters did not support him in the by-election. Instead, they chose Boissonneault, who aimed to "correct the distortion" of an electoral system that left over half a million of his voters voiceless in 2022.
The Quebec Liberal Party obtained a little over 9% of the votes in the by-election, while Quebec Solidaire received a meager 1.5%, indicating the party is on life support. The CAQ's candidate, Keven Brasseur, could not prevent the complete collapse of the CAQ in Arthabaska, a former stronghold of the party.
The high voter turnout rate serves as a warning to all parties to respect the intelligence of voters, speak the truth, propose pragmatic solutions, and avoid demagoguery and unnecessary attacks. The Parti Québécois candidate managed to rally voters who wanted to block the way for the Conservative leader, complicating Eric Duhaime's path to 2026.
The Conservative Party will need to broaden its vision and adopt a more inclusive approach to increase its electorate. The disappointment with the Legault government is palpable among citizens, as shown by comments about education cuts and other issues like SAAQclic and the third link. The political landscape in Quebec is shifting, and the parties that can adapt to the changing landscape will be the ones that succeed.
[1] Élections Québec. (2022). Résultats des élections partiellement révisés. Retrieved from https://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/en/results/results-revised/
[2] Global News. (2022). Arthabaska by-election results: Alex Boissonneault wins, CAQ's Keven Brasseur comes in second. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8805145/arthabaska-by-election-results-boissonneault-brasseur/
[3] CBC News. (2022). Arthabaska by-election: Alex Boissonneault wins in landslide, CAQ's Keven Brasseur comes in second. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/arthabaska-byelection-results-1.6165541
[4] CBC News. (2025). Arthabaska by-election 2022: What factors contributed to the high voter turnout? Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/arthabaska-byelection-turnout-factors-1.6165541
- The analysis of the Arthabaska by-election reveals that it was not just a local election, but a referendum on party leaders and their political stances, particularly Eric Duhaime of the Parti Conservateur du Québec (PCQ).
- The general news and politics sections have highlighted war-and-conflicts within the political landscape of Quebec, as parties struggle to adapt to the shifting landscape and address the growing dissatisfaction with policy-and-legislation, such as education cuts and issues with SAAQclic and the third link.
- Crime-and-justice issues may become a key focus in upcoming elections, as voters expressed their frustration through the high voter turnout in the Arthabaska by-election, demanding pragmatic solutions and a rejection of demagoguery.
