Candidates in Terrebonne byelection make final pitches ahead Monday vote

The race to replace former economy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon as the MNA for Terrebonne is in the final stretch.

Voters go to the polls on Monday and the Parti Québécois (PQ) is a strong favourite to add a fifth member to its caucus.

It’s effectively a choice between two candidates, with the PQ framing Monday’s byelection as a referendum on the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).

“I think the most important part is the actual work of the CAQ at a national level where we see money wasted in sums that we never saw in terms of importance, while at the same time cutting in the health-care system,” said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.

“That doesn’t fly, that it’s just not acceptable. And we hear it when we talk to the population.”

Catherine Gentilcore, president of the PQ, is the frontrunner in the race. She is hoping to win back the seat, which was historically a PQ stronghold.

“The most important thing for people in Terrebonne is to make sure that we’re not cutting anymore in health and education and stuff like that. So, that’s really what I’m understanding of the context here.”

The candidate for the CAQ, Alex Gagné, was not available for an interview. In a statement, his team wrote: “Mr. Gagné is confident ... At this stage of the campaign, the candidate is out in the field meeting citizens. For him, the important thing is to talk to people, listen to them and ask questions.”

According to the poll aggregator qc125.com, the PQ is currently leading with 40 per cent of the vote, with the CAQ in second with 27 per cent. The Quebec Liberals are in third at 17 per cent, while the Quebec Conservatives and Québec solidaire with 8 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.

“I would say here that it’s more predictable to have the PQ win there. It’s more returning to the status quo,” said Daniel Beland, director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada.

He said provincewide, the party is still leading in the polls, but U.S. tariffs are changing politics and he is watching to see how much support the Liberals get in Terrebonne.

Quebec Liberal candidate Virginie Bouchard says the Liberals remain a strong voice in Quebec City and is trying to appeal to Terrebonne voters by relating to them on issues like public transportation.

Québec solidaire candidate Nadia Poirier is also trying to win support on local issues, telling CTV News that public transit and the cost of living are the two she hears about most often from voters.