Brome—Missisquoi

Brome—Missisquoi is a federal electoral district in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, stretching along the Canada–United States border between Montreal and Sherbrooke. The riding straddles the Montérégie and Estrie regions and encompasses a landscape of rolling farmland, forested hills, and lake country at the northern edge of the Appalachian range. Principal communities include Cowansville, Bromont, Farnham, Lac-Brome, Bedford, Sutton, and part of Magog.

Candidates

Pierre Jacob (NDP) — Jacob was a youth offenders instructor before entering politics. He held a college diploma in social sciences and psychology, a bachelor’s degree in criminology and law, and an advanced diploma in public administration. He entered the 2011 race as part of the NDP’s wave of Quebec candidates under Jack Layton’s leadership.

Denis Paradis (Liberal) — A lawyer educated at the University of Ottawa with degrees in commerce and law, Paradis had previously represented Brome—Missisquoi from 1995 to 2006. First elected in a 1995 by-election, he went on to serve as chair of the Liberal Party’s Quebec caucus and as Minister of State for Financial Institutions under Paul Martin. He lost the riding to the Bloc Québécois in 2006 and was seeking to reclaim it in 2011.

Christelle Bogosta (Bloc Québécois) — Bogosta had previously been an NDP candidate before joining the Bloc Québécois for the 2011 election. She was involved in community organizations providing services to women and to people dealing with addiction and HIV. The riding’s previous Bloc MP, Christian Ouellet, had retired at age 76 rather than seek re-election.

Nolan LeBlanc-Bauerle (Conservative) — LeBlanc-Bauerle was the Conservative Party candidate in Brome—Missisquoi for the 2011 election.

Benoit Lambert ran for the Green Party.

About the Riding

Brome—Missisquoi covers approximately 3,045 square kilometres of Eastern Townships terrain, with a population of roughly 93,000 as of 2006. The riding’s economy blends agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. The agricultural sector is anchored by dairy farming, apple orchards, and vineyards — the region is one of Quebec’s principal wine-producing areas. Brome Lake Ducks, a major local employer with nearly 300 workers, is a nationally known poultry producer based in the riding. Manufacturing in Bromont includes IBM’s semiconductor assembly and testing facility and a General Electric aviation plant, both significant employers. Tourism is a major economic driver, with ski resorts at Bromont and Sutton, the scenic shores of Lac-Brome and Lake Memphremagog, and a network of cycling and hiking trails drawing visitors year-round. The riding has a notable anglophone minority alongside its francophone majority. Key federal issues heading into 2011 included support for agricultural supply management, rural infrastructure investment, and cross-border trade given the riding’s proximity to Vermont.