Chicoutimi—Le Fjord

Chicoutimi—Le Fjord is a federal riding in Quebec's Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, encompassing the northern portion of the city of Saguenay and the communities along the Saguenay Fjord. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal MP Denis Lemieux, who announced on November 6, 2017, that he was stepping down for family reasons; his resignation took effect on December 1, 2017. Lemieux had been elected in the 2015 general election.

Candidates

Richard Martel (Conservative) — Martel is a legendary figure in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) coaching. Born and raised in Chicoutimi, he became the winningest coach in QMJHL history in 2010 while leading the Chicoutimi Saguénéens, surpassing 570 career victories. He twice won the Ron Lapointe Trophy as QMJHL coach of the year.

Lina Boivin (Liberal) — Boivin was a community leader and businesswoman involved with numerous local organizations including the Saguenay Businesswomen's Association, the Fondation Ma Vie for the Chicoutimi Hospital, and the Board of Directors for the Caisse Desjardins of Chicoutimi. She also served on the board of Port Saguenay.

Catherine Bouchard-Tremblay (Bloc Québécois) — Bouchard-Tremblay was 25 years old at the time and had previously run in the 2012 provincial election and the 2016 provincial by-election under the Option nationale banner in the Chicoutimi riding. Her campaign was hampered by internal turmoil within the Bloc, which had recently seen seven of its ten MPs leave caucus.

Éric Dubois (NDP) — Dubois was a union advisor at the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) who was acclaimed as the NDP candidate in January 2018.

About the Riding

The riding includes the northern part of the Chicoutimi borough of Saguenay, the La Baie borough, and the municipalities of Ferland-et-Boilleau, L'Anse-Saint-Jean, Petit-Saguenay, Rivière-Éternité, and Saint-Félix-d'Otis. Located approximately 200 kilometres north of Quebec City, the region is dominated by the spectacular Saguenay Fjord, one of the longest fjords in the world and a major tourist attraction.

The regional economy has historically been built on natural resources. Pulp and paper manufacturing drove growth from the late 19th century onward, with the Chicoutimi Pulp Company established in 1896. Aluminum smelting became a major industry following the construction of hydroelectric stations, and the Rio Tinto Alcan plant remains a significant employer. Tourism has grown in importance, anchored by the Saguenay Fjord National Park and outdoor recreation.

The riding's population is almost entirely francophone, with approximately 98% of residents speaking French as their first language. The region has experienced gradual population decline, a trend common across Quebec's resource-dependent regions, and the median household income sits below the provincial average.