Quebec Premier Calls Byelection for Chicoutimi on February 23

Quebec Premier François Legault has officially announced a byelection for the riding of Chicoutimi, scheduled for February 23, 2026. This announcement follows the vacancy created by the departure of former cabinet minister Andrée Laforest, who left provincial politics in September 2025.

Legault, who recently disclosed his own intention to step back from politics, was obligated to call the byelection within a six-month timeframe following Laforest’s resignation. Chicoutimi, located in the Saguenay—Lac-St-Jean region, has historically been a stronghold for the Parti Québécois (PQ), which Laforest managed to capture in both the 2018 and 2022 elections.

Political Landscape and Candidates

As the political landscape shifts, the PQ has gained momentum in recent polls and has successfully secured victories in the last three byelections. In this context, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and the Opposition Liberal Party are currently undergoing leadership races due to the resignations of Legault and Pablo Rodriguez, the former leader of the Liberals.

On Tuesday, the CAQ announced its candidate for the byelection, naming Francis Tremblay, a local master’s student. Tremblay will face a competitive field, including Marie-Karlynn Laflamme from the PQ, Catherine Morissette representing the Conservative Party of Quebec, and Jeanne Palardy from Québec Solidaire. As of now, the Quebec Liberals have not yet revealed their candidate for this pivotal election.

With the byelection approaching, the political stakes are high for all parties involved, and the outcome will be closely watched as it could signify shifting allegiances and voter sentiments in Quebec.

This report is based on information provided by The Canadian Press.