Voters in four Quebec ridings will be heading to the polls in December.
Premier Philippe Couillard confirmed in a statement that in cabinet meeting Wednesday morning, they adopted a decree to hold the by-elections.
All four races were triggered because of different circumstances:
- In Verdun, Former Liberal minister Jacques Daoust was forced to resign because of a controversy over the sale of Quebec hardware chain Rona to American interests.
- In St-Jerome, former PQ leader Pierre Karl Peladeau suddenly resigned for family reasons.
- In Marie-Victorin, PQ MNA Bernard Drainville quit shortly after Peladeau's resignation.
- In Arthabaska, independent MNA Sylvie Roy died from a sudden illness.
Roy was with the CAQ before she became an independent MNA, so the party is hoping to hold on to the riding.
"I hope to protect this one, and I would like to make a gain in the three other races," said CAQ leader Francois Legault.
The PQ is hoping to hold on to St-Jerome, which is a swing riding. The CAQ won that riding before Peladeau won it for the PQ - and he did not win by a large margin.
“I'll be very present in the four by-elections between now and the 5th, starting this weekend, and I'm very hopeful in the four,” said PQ leader Jean-Francois Lisée.
“After two-years-and-a-half people will say if they are happy or unhappy about the government. We'll put a lot of emphasis on taxes and also about identity issues,” said Legault.
The by-elections will be held on Dec. 5.
