Outremont

Outremont is a federal riding on the island of Montreal, Quebec, encompassing several central neighbourhoods on and around Mount Royal. The by-election was called following the resignation of NDP MP Tom Mulcair, the former leader of the federal NDP. Mulcair announced in December 2017 that he would leave Parliament to accept a teaching position at the Université de Montréal, and his resignation took effect on August 3, 2018. He had represented the riding since winning a landmark by-election in 2007 that signalled the NDP's breakthrough in Quebec.

Candidates

Rachel Bendayan (Liberal) — An international trade and commercial litigation lawyer who had practised at Norton Rose Fulbright. She studied law at McGill University and also taught at the Faculty of Law at the Université de Montréal. She won the Liberal nomination in December 2018 after defeating Concordia University professor Kim Manning.

Julia Sánchez (NDP) — A humanitarian worker with 25 years of experience in international development who had served as Managing Director for the Global Campaign for Climate Action. Originally from Peru, she had arrived in Canada as an infant.

Daniel Green (Green Party) — The Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada, Green held a degree in biological sciences and environmental science from the Université du Québec à Montréal. He had spent decades in environmental advocacy, heading the Société pour vaincre la pollution from 1980 to 2000 and continuing as its co-chair.

Michel Duchesne (Bloc Québécois) and Jasmine Louras (Conservative) also ran as candidates, along with James Seale for the People's Party.

About the Riding

The federal riding of Outremont includes the borough of Outremont, the eastern portion of Côte-des-Neiges, the western part of Mile End in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, and sections of upper downtown Montreal, La Petite-Patrie, and Parc-Extension. The riding flanks the northwestern slope of Mount Royal and includes some of Montreal's most desirable residential streets.

The population is predominantly francophone, with French as the first language for nearly half of residents. The riding is notably diverse, with significant anglophone, Arabic-speaking, and Yiddish-speaking communities. A substantial Hasidic Jewish community resides primarily in the eastern and northern portions of the Outremont borough. There is also a significant population of expatriates from France.

The neighbourhood is largely residential with commercial activity concentrated along avenues such as Van Horne, Bernard, and Laurier. The Université de Montréal is located near the riding's boundaries. Historically a Liberal stronghold, the riding was held by the NDP from 2007 to 2019 following Mulcair's initial breakthrough victory.