Bloc gains momentum after snatching Montreal riding from Liberals

Despite the final results trickling in until nearly 3 a.m., Louis-Philippe Sauvé stayed up to witness his narrow victory in a highly contested riding in southwestern Montreal. LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, a riding traditionally dominated by the Liberals for much of the past century, was won by the Bloc Québécois in Monday's federal byelection after a close three-way race.

"It was an emotional rollercoaster of a night," Sauvé said during a Tuesday morning press conference alongside Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet. "I'm exhausted, having only slept for three hours, but today I feel incredibly grateful to the people of my neighborhood for choosing me as their MP, and I will work with dignity to serve them."

Blanchet expressed his pleasure and gratitude for the trust the riding's voters placed in Sauvé and the Bloc, emphasizing that the real work now begins. "He will show the people that they've made the right choice," Blanchet said. "He will be a present, engaged, and determined MP."

Sauvé, a former staffer on Parliament Hill, secured victory by a slim margin of 248 votes over Liberal candidate Laura Palestini, with NDP candidate and local city councillor Craig Sauvé finishing in third place. The Bloc's win in the byelection provides the party with significant momentum ahead of an anticipated federal election, delivering another blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals.

Throughout the night, the leading candidates frequently swapped places, with the final result announced just before 3 a.m. Voter turnout reached just over 39%, about 10 percentage points higher than last year’s federal byelection in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount.

Before the official results were confirmed, Sauvé addressed supporters at an Irish pub in Verdun, saying, "Tonight, no matter what happens, we win or lose together!" The remark was met with cheers and applause as Bloc members celebrated early with a rendition of "Gens du pays," Quebec's unofficial anthem.

When asked at the press conference how he intends to represent all constituents despite his narrow victory, Sauvé stated, "I will be an MP for every citizen in this riding, working for those who voted for me and those who didn't. That's what representation is about."

Sauvé said his first priority will be to staff his office and begin addressing local concerns, including housing, homelessness, pensions for seniors, and French language integration and sovereignty.

The riding had been left vacant following the departure of former justice minister David Lametti in January. Lametti had won by a wide margin in 2021, but Palestini fell short this time by less than one percentage point.

'Extra Wind in Its Sails'

Blanchet attributed the Bloc's victory to growing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Trudeau, stating, "The Liberal government's days are numbered," though he clarified that the Bloc would not actively seek to bring down the government. "We want to advance important issues for Quebec. We have a golden opportunity right now."

Responding in English, Blanchet said that gaining this seat helps "build a bridge" between the Bloc, Montrealers, and the rest of Quebec, positioning the party well to capture more Liberal votes on the island of Montreal if a general election is called.

Approximately 58% of the riding's residents are francophones, according to census data, with 23% listing English as their mother tongue. The LaSalle area also has a significant Italian-Canadian population.

Dónal Gill, a political science professor at Concordia University, emphasized the significance of the Bloc's victory for Trudeau’s Liberals. "Losing in the heart of Montreal signals a huge blow for the Liberals. If they can't win here, many marginal Liberal seats across the country could be at risk," he said. Gill praised Blanchet’s leadership since the party's resurgence in 2019, predicting the Bloc will leverage this momentum to secure key concessions from the government in the coming months.

Local Reactions

CBC News spoke with residents in Ville-Émard, many of whom were unaware of their new MP. Amélie Côté expressed surprise at the result, noting she didn't vote for the Bloc but acknowledged that "it represents what people want in the area." She emphasized the need for an MP who will listen and address issues like the housing crisis.

First-time voter Coralie Odell said she voted for the Bloc due to the party's commitment to the French language. "Too many people here speak only English, and I think that’s a problem in a French province," she said. "The Bloc Québécois has our best interests in mind."