Twelve candidates are competing in the current by-election in the riding of Marie-Victorin in Longueuil. The period for submitting an official candidacy ended Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., Elections Quebec said in a press release.
The riding of Marie-Victorin has been vacant since the election of Catherine Fournier as mayor of Longueuil last November. She had previously sat there as an independent MP since 2019 after slamming the door of the Parti Québécois (PQ), which she represented in the last provincial election.
The PQ is counting this time on the candidacy of former NDP federal MP Pierre Nantel to bring this PQ bastion back into its fold.
For its part, the government of François Legault presents the nurse and former trade unionist Shirley Dorismond there under the colors of the Coalition avenir Québec. She was particularly known for having held the position of vice-president of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec.
Québec solidaire will try to have Shophika Vaithyanathasarma elected there, who also tried his luck with the Bloc Québécois in the last federal election, finishing third in terms of votes.
The actress Anne Casabonne also tries to convince the voters of Marie-Victorin to vote for her and the Conservative Party of Quebec of Éric Duhaime, which she represents. His entry on the provincial political scene had been rather noticed with remarks on vaccination on his Facebook page, described as anti-vaccine by many, and which had made the headlines.
Martine Ouellet also wants to return to the Quebec political scene by appearing there with her new party, Climat Québec, dedicated to the climate emergency. Former Minister of Natural Resources in the government of Pauline Marois, Mme Ouellet is well known to Quebecers.
For its part, the Quebec Liberal Party is presenting candidate Émilie Nollet.
The other candidates who will try to be elected in the riding of Marie-Victorin are the leader of the Green Party of Quebec, Alex Tyrrell, Michel Blondin, of the Party for the independence of Quebec, Shawn Lalande McLean, of the Access property and equity Party , Michel Lebrun, of the National Union, Florent Portron, with the Autonomist Team, and Philippe Tessier.
“I would like to salute the commitment that drives each of the people who have decided to run for the riding of Marie-Victorin. The vote is essential to the vitality of our democracy, but the participation of these women and men who wish to represent the population is just as important”, affirmed the Chief Electoral Officer, Pierre Reid.
Some 45,500 electors are invited to exercise their right to vote during this by-election. Voters are invited to vote on April 11. It will also be possible to vote in advance on April 3 and 4.