The Parti Québécois (PQ) secured a victory in a provincial by-election Monday, regaining a seat in the Quebec legislature with the win of Marie-Karlynn Laflamme in the Chicoutimi riding. The result marks the fourth consecutive by-election win for the PQ, signaling a potential shift in the province’s political landscape.
Laflamme, a former interim vice-rector at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), received 45.35% of the vote, defeating Catherine Morissette of the Parti Conservateur du Québec (PCQ), who garnered 26.07% after all 142 polls were counted. Voter turnout reached 34.22% and Laflamme won by a margin of 2,976 votes.
Both party leaders actively campaigned in the riding, with PCQ leader Éric Duhaime making six appearances and PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon appearing four times. The win is a significant return for the PQ in Chicoutimi, a district they consistently held from 1973 to 2018.
Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon speaks alongside the party’s seven current members of the legislature, including newly elected Chicoutimi representative Marie-Karlynn Laflamme.
Photo : Radio-Canada / François Rivard
The PQ now holds seven seats in the Quebec National Assembly, an increase of four since the 2022 general election. All seven PQ members were present for their leader’s victory speech.
Prior to the Chicoutimi win, the PQ had secured victories in by-elections in Jean-Talon, Terrebonne, and Arthabaska. “I look at the quality of the team we are building and I suppose we can say, exactly as in 1976, that Quebec needs a real government. We will embody that government with reliable, rigorous people who are there for the right reasons and who best embody all the values of the new member for Chicoutimi, Marie-Karlynn Laflamme,” said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, according to reports.
Laflamme herself added, “Yes, tonight, my friends, we are returning to our roots. We are sending the same pioneering message to the rest of our region as to the rest of Quebec, that the time has come to change the way we govern in Quebec.”
Another election is scheduled in Chicoutimi on October 5, 2026.
Former MLA Offers Congratulations
The by-election was called following the resignation of former Municipal Affairs Minister Andrée Laforest, who unsuccessfully sought the mayorship of Saguenay. Laforest took to Facebook to congratulate Laflamme on her win. “You have a constituency that is so vital and several projects have been carried out or are underway. You will be able to bring your color to the constituency office and it is up to you to bring what is best for the citizens. I wish you as much happiness as I had during these beautiful years in politics,” she wrote, also congratulating all the candidates for their involvement.
PCQ Gains Ground
The Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) increased its support in Chicoutimi, with Catherine Morissette’s showing significantly improving upon the 8% received by Éric Girard, the party’s candidate in 2022. Morissette is well-known in the Saguenay region, having previously served as mayor of Saint-David-de-Falardeau and as a candidate for mayor of Saguenay.
Following the announcement of the results, Morissette expressed disappointment but highlighted the party’s gains. “We knew it was a preview, and for the second time in a row, like in Arthabaska a few months ago, the battle is between the Parti Québécois and the Parti Conservateur du Québec. It’s unique in Quebec history for a party with no members in the National Assembly to beat the government and the official opposition in two consecutive elections,” said PCQ leader Éric Duhaime.
“Once again, as in Arthabaska a few months ago, for the second time in a row, the battle is between the Parti Québécois and the Parti Conservateur du Québec. It’s unique in Quebec history for a party with no members in the National Assembly to beat the government and the official opposition in two consecutive elections.”
Conservative Party of Quebec candidate Catherine Morissette was joined by party leader Éric Duhaime Monday evening.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Claude Bouchard
Morissette also stated she intends to run again in the next election.
CAQ Faces Disappointing Result
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) faced a disappointing outcome, with candidate Francis Tremblay receiving 11.97% of the vote. This represents a significant decline from the 62.28% achieved by Andrée Laforest in 2018. The result underscores the challenges facing the CAQ in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.
“Tonight, the voters of Chicoutimi elected a new member, Ms. Laflamme. I would like to congratulate her. I also congratulate all the candidates of all parties who participated in this by-election,” Quebec Premier François Legault commented on X.
The outgoing CAQ leader also praised his candidate’s campaign, which was conducted “under difficult conditions.”
Tremblay expressed satisfaction with his campaign experience. “Yes, I am satisfied with the result because, honestly, when I launched my campaign, I didn’t even see the option of winning or losing. When you get involved in politics, I think the most important thing is to travel for the right reasons, and then just talk to people. That’s my victory, really, having been in the field, having known the realities of Chicoutimi, having talked to organizations. That’s a victory in itself,” he said in a phone interview after the results were announced.
The CAQ now holds only three of five seats in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, with Tremblay now sitting as an independent in the Dubuc riding. The Minister responsible for the region and member for Lac-Saint-Jean, Eric Girard, attended the election night event.
Liberal Party Also Sees Gains
The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) also saw an increase in support, with candidate Tricia Murray receiving 9.13% of the vote. Here’s a significant improvement from the 3% received by Gabriel Caron in 2022, and a substantial increase from the less than 5% received by all five Liberal candidates at that time. The PLQ chose its new leader during the campaign, and Charles Milliard came to support Murray while still a candidate.
Jeanne Palardy (Québec solidaire) received 5.59% of the vote, compared to 1.44% for Olivier Dion of Climat Québec and 0.45% for François Sabourin of the Parti populaire du Québec. With this result, QS lost a significant portion of its votes compared to nearly four years ago, when Adrien Guibert-Barthez received 12% of the vote.
In 2016, a by-election was held following the resignation of MLA Stéphane Bédard. Mireille Jean retained the seat for the PQ, and voter turnout was 41%.
With Philippe Marier-Verret
