Today marks the beginning of voting in three federal ridings’ byelections, with a notable contest anticipated in rural Quebec.
Former Conservative Richard Martel stepped down from his position in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord to take a seat in the Senate. In the 2025 election, Martel secured victory in a closely fought three-way battle, triumphing over the Liberal and Bloc Québécois candidates by a margin of approximately 1,500 votes.
Daniel Béland, a political science expert from McGill University, suggests that if the Conservatives fail to retain this seat, it could raise concerns about Pierre Poilievre’s leadership.
Additionally, byelections are taking place in the Toronto constituency of Beaches-East York and in North Vancouver-Capilano, where former cabinet ministers Nate Erskine-Smith and Jonathan Wilkinson previously served.
