MONTREAL – Voters in approximately 1,100 municipalities throughout Quebec participated in local elections on Sunday, resulting in significant shifts in leadership across the province. Here are the key highlights from the municipal election results.
Montrealers Have Voted for Change
In a decisive move away from the left-wing administration of outgoing Mayor Valérie Plante, Montreal's electorate has elected centrist candidate Soraya Martinez Ferrada as the city's new mayor. Martinez Ferrada, who emigrated to Canada as a Chilean refugee in 1980, previously served in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before leading the Ensemble Montréal party.
With over 80 percent of polling stations reporting, Martinez Ferrada secured 43 percent of the vote, outpacing her closest competitor, Luc Rabouin, the leader of Plante's party, who garnered 36 percent. Her platform outlines plans to dismantle tent cities throughout the island within a four-year timeframe and to reassess the bike lane network, focusing on the removal of problematic paths causing issues for residents, businesses, and motorists.
The election results indicated a desire for change, as Martinez Ferrada's victory came alongside significant support for two other candidates—right-of-center Gilbert Thibodeau and leftist Craig Sauvé. This distribution of votes suggests that many voters were not satisfied with the leading parties and were seeking alternatives.
Quebec City Gives Major Vote of Confidence to Bruno Marchand
In Quebec City, Bruno Marchand received a strong endorsement from residents, winning reelection with over 49 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Stéphane Lachance, a businessman, trailed significantly with 23 percent, while former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Sam Hamad came in third with 14 percent.
Marchand’s victory is seen as a mandate from Quebec City residents for the implementation of a tramway system, a long-debated public transit project that has faced various challenges. Following his win, Marchand expressed pride tempered with humility, acknowledging the necessity of uniting the city to address ongoing challenges.
Ex-Federal Politicians Running Quebec Cities
In a notable trend, several former federal politicians have transitioned to leadership roles in municipal government. Along with Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Marie-Claude Bibeau, who previously held national revenue, agriculture, and international development portfolios, has been elected mayor of Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships. Bibeau served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 2015 to 2021.
Additionally, Steven Blaney, a former minister in the Conservative government under Stephen Harper, has become the mayor of Lévis, situated on the south shore of Quebec City. Blaney was an MP between 2006 and 2021 and had oversight of several portfolios, including veterans, francophonie, and public safety. Meanwhile, Guy Caron, who served as an MP for the NDP from 2011 to 2019, was re-elected as mayor of Rimouski.
One Man, Two Cities
Yves Lévesque, former mayor of Trois-Rivières from 2001 to 2018, made a comeback by winning the mayoralty of Shawinigan, which is located about 30 kilometers north of Trois-Rivières. Lévesque had stepped back from municipal politics for health reasons after a series of unsuccessful attempts to secure a federal nomination as a Conservative candidate. In this election, he comfortably won with nearly 52 percent of the votes, surpassing his opponent Jacinthe Campagna, who received just under 30 percent.
