Hochelaga

The riding of Hochelaga occupies Montreal's east end, drawing its territory from the historic working-class neighbourhood of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve in the borough of Mercier--Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, along with parts of eastern Rosemont in Rosemont--La Petite-Patrie and a section of Centre-Sud in Ville-Marie. Once known for its concentration of heavy industry, the area retained a strong blue-collar identity even as condominium development and rising property values were reshaping the neighbourhood's social fabric.

Candidates

Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal) — A former Montreal municipal councillor for the district of Saint-Michel, Martinez Ferrada had worked at TOHU, a unique project combining circus arts, social engagement, and ecology in Montreal's north end, where she created its first cultural and socio-professional integration program. She later returned to TOHU as director of partnerships and philanthropy before serving as a senior adviser to Heritage Minister Melanie Joly.

Simon Marchand (Bloc Quebecois) — A fraud prevention specialist with more than a decade of experience in banking and telecommunications, Marchand had run for the Bloc in Hochelaga in the 2015 election as well. He specialized in biometrics, digital identity, and the ethical use of biometric technologies.

Catheryn Roy-Goyette (NDP) — Roy-Goyette had served as a political adviser to outgoing NDP incumbent Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, who chose not to seek re-election in 2019. She carried the NDP standard in a riding that the party had held since 2011.

Robert D. Morais (Green Party) — Morais represented the Green Party in the riding, campaigning on environmental and social justice issues in a district grappling with the effects of gentrification.

Christine Marcoux (Conservative) — Marcoux carried the Conservative banner in a historically left-leaning east-end Montreal district.

Stepan Balatsko ran for the People's Party, Chinook Blais-Leduc for the Parti Rhinoceros Party, Christine Dandenault for the Marxist-Leninist Party, and JP Fortin for the Communist Party.

About the Riding

Hochelaga-Maisonneuve has undergone significant transformation in recent years, as waves of condominium construction and new commercial establishments have pushed property values and rents upward. Community organizations warned of rapid gentrification, citing the displacement of low-income tenants and the loss of affordable retail. The neighbourhood is predominantly composed of renters, and a substantial share of households spent more than thirty per cent of their income on housing. The neighbourhood's heritage includes the Olympic Stadium complex and the Maisonneuve Market, alongside community gardens and cultural spaces. Federal campaign issues in the riding centred on affordable housing policy, poverty reduction, environmental protection along the St. Lawrence, and support for community organizations serving vulnerable populations.