Rivière-du-Nord

Rivière-du-Nord is a suburban riding in the Laurentides region of Quebec, centred on the city of Saint-Jérôme, located approximately 45 kilometres northwest of Montreal. Named for the Rivière du Nord that flows through it, the riding serves as the gateway to the Laurentian Mountains and encompasses surrounding communities in the La Rivière-du-Nord regional county municipality.

Candidates

Pierre Dionne Labelle (NDP) — Born in 1955, Dionne Labelle had worked for more than twenty years as a community development agent in the Laurentides region. He was also active as a singer-songwriter alongside his community work. He ran for the NDP in the riding in 2011.

Monique Guay (Bloc Québécois) — The incumbent MP and one of the longest-serving members of the Bloc Québécois caucus. Born in L'Île-Bizard in 1959, Guay was a businesswoman and administrator before first being elected in 1993 in the riding of Laurentides. She was subsequently re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, and 2008, serving the area continuously for nearly eighteen years. During her parliamentary career, she served as Bloc Québécois caucus chair from 2002 to 2004 and as the party's deputy House leader. She held critic portfolios in labour, international cooperation, and la Francophonie.

Sylvain Charron (Conservative) — The Conservative Party candidate in the riding.

Jonathan Juteau (Liberal) — The Liberal Party candidate in the riding.

René Piché (Green Party) — The Green Party candidate in the riding.

About the Riding

Saint-Jérôme, the principal city in the riding, had a population of roughly 68,000 in 2011 and serves as the administrative and commercial capital of the Laurentides region. The city is home to the Hôpital régional de Saint-Jérôme, which functions as a secondary trauma centre for the broader region, and the Palais de justice de Saint-Jérôme, the main courthouse serving the Laurentides judicial district. Saint-Jérôme is historically known as the gateway to the Laurentians, with the Autoroute des Laurentides (Highway 15) passing through the area and connecting the region to Montreal. The local economy blends manufacturing, construction, retail, and health and social services. The construction sector is notably prominent in the Laurentides compared to the provincial average, driven by strong population growth in the suburban belt north of Montreal. The riding experienced significant demographic growth in the years leading up to 2011, with the broader MRC de la Rivière-du-Nord growing at nearly double the provincial rate. The population is overwhelmingly francophone. Many residents commute to the greater Montreal area for work, while the regional service economy in Saint-Jérôme provides employment in healthcare, education, and public administration. Tourism tied to the nearby Laurentian ski resorts and outdoor recreation areas also contributes to the local economy.