PQ elected to minority government

By : Jennifer Robinson.

The Parti Québécois led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon won the October 5 provincial election, returning the pro-Quebec-independence party to power for the first time in more than a decade. At last count, the PQ had won 59 seats, falling short of a majority in Quebec’s 127-member National Assembly. The Coalition Avenir Québec, which has governed Quebec for the past eight years, was wiped out and did not win a single seat. Voter turnout across the province was 67 per cent.

The Quebec Liberal Party led by Charles Millard won 40 seats, a significant improvement over the last provincial election in 2022. The Liberals will form the official Opposition. The Parti Conservateur du Québec led by Eric Duhaime won 19 seats with 20.7 per cent of Quebecers’ votes. Québec Solidaire won nine seats with 12.4 per cent of the province-wide vote — interestingly, fewer votes than the CAQ.

Brome-Missisquoi votes Liberal

Here in Brome-Missisquoi, which includes Brome Lake, Brome and West Bolton, Liberal Frédéric Beauchemin won the seat with 32.5 per cent of the vote. The PQ’s Patrick Melchior came second.

The seat had been held by the CAQ since 2018. Prior to that, Brome-Missisquoi was a Liberal stronghold held by Pierre Paradis for some 37 years. Until this election, Beauchemin was a member of the National Assembly representing the Montreal riding of Marguerite-Bourgeoys.

Orford elects Liberal leader

In the Orford riding, where St-Étienne-de-Bolton and Bolton East are located, Liberal leader Charles Millard easily won with 37.8 per cent of votes cast. In that riding also, the PQ candidate Jocelyn Caron came second.

Turnout in both Brome-Missisquoi and Orford ridings was over 70 per cent.