(Matane) Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Diane Lebouthillier announced Friday morning that she will be a candidate in the next federal election.
Mme Lebouthillier made this announcement during a speech at the La Matanie Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Diane Lebouthillier was elected in the riding of Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine for the first time in 2015 and has been re-elected without interruption since. She served as Minister of National Revenue from 2015 to 2023.
Mme Lebouthillier said she still had the “sacred fire” to continue her work.
If federal elections take place after next April, the minister will run in a new riding called Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine–Listuguj, which will include the current riding of Avignon–La Mitis–Matane–Matapédia, represented by Bloc member Kristina Michaud.
“After four long years in the Bloc opposition stands, the people of Avignon and Matanie will have a unique opportunity in the next elections: to choose to play at the center of the rink and take full part in the decisions that concern them,” supported Mme Lebouthillier.
Under the agreement between the Liberal government and the New Democratic Party (NDP), elections should not take place before 2025.
During the last elections of 2021, Mme Lebouthillier was re-elected with more than 46% of the vote against Bloc leader Guy Bernatchez, who won more than 39% of the vote.
On the other hand, in Avignon–La Mitis–Matane–Matapédia, Mme Michaud was re-elected with nearly 60% of the votes against her liberal rival Louis-Éric Savoie, who only obtained a little more than 21% of the votes.