Many students of Saint-Charles now have a new MNA

by Étienne-Alexandre Beauregard

On October 2nd, the campaign in the riding of Louis-Hébert to replace liberal MNA Sam Hamad ended in a surprising way for many analysts. While almost everyone predicted a strong liberal win in this riding where the QLP managed to get over 49% of the popular vote in 2014, Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) candidate Geneviève Guilbault won the riding with a strong vote typical of byelections. Indeed, over one in two voters gave her his trust and she ended up with over 51% of the vote.

It’s a strong message for Philippe Couillard’s Québec Liberal Party which is becoming less and less popular among francophones all over Québec. The red candidate, Ihsanne El Ghernati, only got about 18% of the vote, almost losing the second place to Parti Québécois candidate Normand Beauregard, who managed to gain the trust of 16% of voters in the typically liberal riding of Louis-Hébert. If things continue this way, the Québec premier and his party could be completely wiped out of francophone Québec even in mostly federalist and right-wing regions like Québec City.

Before being named CAQ candidate in Louis-Hébert after the first pick of François Legault’s party was forced to quit the race due to a harassment story, Mrs. Guilbault worked for the coroner’s office and had already announced her intention to run for the CAQ in the riding of Charlesbourg, also in Québec City. Before that, she was a member of the Liberal Party and worked for Jacques Dupuis when he was Transport Minister in the Charest administration. She also worked for the QLP in 2016, but refused to declare it at the beginning of her campaign. Mrs. Guilbault is currently pregnant and will give birth to her baby in December. She’s already specified that her husband will be taking a long paternity leave so she can do her job as new Louis-Hébert MNA at the best of her capacities.