Quebec byelection in Montreal's Sud-Ouest borough called for March 13
Montrealers living in the city's Sud-Ouest borough will head to the polls again in mid-March to choose who they'll be sending to the province's National Assembly, the premier's office announced Monday.
"Now that some time has passed since the October 2022 election, it is time to allow the citizens of the riding of Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne to decide who will represent them," said Premier François Legault in a statement.
The seat was left vacant by the former leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Dominique Anglade, when she announced her resignation as both party leader and representative for the riding — a Liberal stronghold — in December.
Less than two hours before the byelection was called, the Quebec Liberal Party unveiled its candidate in the riding. At a news conference held at the Burgundy Lion pub, interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay announced Christopher Baenninger will run for the seat.
"It is with great pride that I begin this new adventure," said Baenninger, speaking to reporters and flanked by his wife and son as well as other elected party members.
Becoming emotional during his speech, the candidate said his number one priority is "to have a positive impact in the community" — the same one where his parents live and where he fell in love, he said.
He raised issues such as social housing, the crisis in public services (health, education, justice and daycare) and the environment.
"We have the ability to overcome these challenges together. We're a team that works for all Quebecers."
Baenninger came in second place behind Québec Solidaire's co-spokesperson Manon Massé in the riding of Sainte-Marie–Saint-Jacques in the general election. He is the president and founder of the marketing and communications agency NewBase Média.
Baenninger will compete for votes against Québec Solidaire's Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, an immigration lawyer who came in second in the riding in the general election, while the Coalition Avenir Québec is putting up 21-year-old Victor Pelletier, who was chosen as the party's youth wing president last year.
