Catherine Gentilcore Wins Terrebonne By-Election For PQ

Catherine Gentilcore of the Parti Québécois (PQ) won the Terrebonne by-election held on March 17, 2025, decisively claiming the seat left vacant by the resignation of former "superminister" Pierre Fitzgibbon. With this victory, she not only becomes the first woman to represent the PQ caucus but also heralds the party's significant comeback in the Terrebonne riding, which had been under Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) control since 2018.

According to early results released shortly before 9 PM on election night, Gentilcore garnered nearly 55% of the votes. This was well above her CAQ rival Alex Gagné, who received approximately 32%. Other candidates, including Virginie Bouchard from the Liberal Party of Quebec, Nadia Poirier from Québec solidaire, and Ange Claude Bigilimana from the Conservative Party of Quebec, pulled significantly lower percentages, with 6%, 4%, and 2% respectively.

The by-election was called following Fitzgibbon's departure due to what he cited as a loss of motivation back in September 2024. The election was formally triggered on February 11, 2025, during trade tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump. During the campaign, Premier François Legault sought to dissuade Trump from implementing tariffs on Canadian products, visiting Washington just before this byelection commenced.

This win is particularly momentous for the PQ, as it marks the second time since the 2022 general elections, where the CAQ had controlled 90 of the 125 seats, the PQ has reclaimed significant ground; the first being Pascal Paradis's victory during the 2023 by-election in Jean-Talon. The PQ's support stemmed from consistent positive polling leading up to the election, culminating with the party's candidate maintaining considerable leads against the CAQ.

Gentilcore's election also taps back to the historical roots of the PQ within the territory, which had been recognized as a stronghold for the party for decades, from 1976 to 2018, before the CAQ took control. The atmosphere during the election night celebration was electrified with party chants echoing “Terrebonne, Terrebonne, Terrebonne!” among supporters, celebrating what they viewed as a restoration of power within the region.

The turnout for this by-election saw approximately 25.41% of the registered voters casting their ballots, with 13.4% voting early and 12.01% voting on the actual election day. Around 61,450 individuals were registered to vote for this election, markedly lower than the participation levels during standard general elections; the turnout was 71.19% during the last general vote held for the constituency. Comparable to past by-elections, such as the 33.1% turnout seen in Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne and 55.25% during the Jean-Talon elections, the numbers reflect typical patterns observed during supplementary elections.

Despite the challenges posed during the campaign, particularly associated with the external economic pressures from the U.S. administration, the PQ's electoral strategy included leveraging both local sentiments and broader party enthusiasm to engage the electorate effectively. Observing the political environment, Gentilcore's candidacy has been pivotal; she rallies support not just based on policy proposals but also from the historical legacy of the PQ party.

Following her victory, Gentilcore joins the ranks of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, Joël Arseneau, Pascal Bérubé, and Pascal Paradis, helping to expand the diversity of representation within the party. Her election signifies the potential shift back of many disillusioned voters who may have turned away from the PQ during the recent CAQ ascendancy.

The results now place added pressure on Premier Legault and his team to address the economic and political ramifications raised through the stronghold lost at Terrebonne, as they strategize for upcoming political contests. Ongoing sentiments about the trade tensions and local issues are set to influence party strategies moving forward.