Outremont

Outremont is a federal electoral district in central Montreal, Quebec, long considered a Liberal stronghold. The by-election was called after Jean Lapierre, who had held the seat since 2004, resigned on January 28, 2007, to pursue a career as a political analyst with Quebec television network TVA and Montreal radio station 98.5 FM.

Candidates

Thomas Mulcair (NDP) — Mulcair served as the member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Chomedey from 1994 to 2007, sitting as a Quebec Liberal. He was Quebec's environment minister from 2003 to 2006 in Premier Jean Charest's government. A lawyer educated at McGill University, he had previously served as president of the Office of the Professions of Quebec from 1987 to 1993.

Jocelyn Coulon (Liberal) — Coulon was a journalist and author who worked at the Montreal newspaper Le Devoir, where he was in charge of the international news section from 1986 to 1999. He authored numerous books on military and international affairs. He was handpicked by Liberal leader Stéphane Dion to run in the by-election.

Jean-Paul Gilson (Bloc Québécois) — Gilson was a Belgian-born Lacanian psychoanalyst who had immigrated to Canada in 1993.

Gilles Duguay (Conservative) — Duguay was a former Canadian diplomat who served as ambassador to several countries in Africa and eastern Europe. He also worked as a university professor and in private enterprise with Power Corporation, a Montreal-based holding company.

François Pilon (Green Party) — Pilon represented the Green Party in this contest.

About the Riding

The riding of Outremont encompasses the borough of Outremont, parts of the Mile End neighbourhood, eastern Côte-des-Neiges, portions of Parc-Extension and La Petite-Patrie, and a section of downtown Montreal. It is bounded to the northwest by Mount Royal and to the south by the Ville-Marie borough. The Université de Montréal campus sits partially within the riding's boundaries.

The district is predominantly residential and linguistically diverse, with a significant francophone majority alongside anglophone, Arabic-speaking, Yiddish-speaking, and other communities. Outremont is notably home to a substantial Hasidic Jewish community that has been established in the area for over 70 years. The riding also includes the vibrant Mile End neighbourhood, known for its artistic and cultural character.

Economically, the riding is characterized by a mix of professional services, education, and small businesses. The presence of the Université de Montréal contributes to the area's academic and research economy. The neighbourhood includes both affluent residential streets lined with heritage homes and more diverse, working-class sections in its eastern portions.