The leader of a citizen's watchdog group is going to represent the Liberal party in the riding of Marie-Victorin.

Maryse Patenaude withdrew her candidacy for the upcoming by-election due to family and personal reasons.

The new candidate is Normand Parisien, who has spent years as the executive director of Transport 2000. He has long advocated for cheaper transit fares and air-conditioned buses in Montreal.

Patenaude, who is from Longueuil, worked for 20 years at the Pierre-Boucher Hospital Centre in Longueuil and has held various positions in the Beloeil Summer Festival at Complexe Les 4 Glaces in Brossard. She was also a member of the Quebec Liberal Young wing.

The riding of Marie-Victorin is considered a PQ stronghold, and was held by former PQ minister Bernard Drainville, who left politics a few months ago to return to the world of media.