Jonquiere

Located in the Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean region of northern Quebec, the riding of Jonquiere is anchored by the borough of the same name within the city of Saguenay, set along the Riviere aux Sables near the borough of Chicoutimi. The riding extends across a vast territory of boreal forest, lakes, and river valleys on the Canadian Shield, though most of the population is concentrated in the urban core where the aluminum industry has shaped community life since the 1920s.

Candidates

Mario Simard (Bloc Quebecois) — A lecturer in humanities and social sciences at the Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi since 2005, Simard holds a bachelor's and master's degree in political science and was pursuing doctoral studies in political philosophy. He had previously worked as an assistant to Claude Patry, the MP for Jonquiere-Alma from 2011 to 2015.

Karine Trudel (NDP) — The incumbent MP elected in 2015, Trudel had worked as a letter carrier for Canada Post and was active in her postal workers' union before entering Parliament. She served as the NDP's Deputy House Leader in the 42nd Parliament.

Philippe Gagnon (Conservative) — A former Paralympic swimmer who won four medals — including three gold — at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, Gagnon remained involved in the Olympic movement as a transport coordinator for the Canadian Olympic Committee at the London 2012, Sochi 2014, and Rio 2016 Games.

Vincent Garneau (Liberal) — Originally from the Saguenay region, Garneau had served as chief of staff to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and was her senior advisor for Canada-US relations during the NAFTA renegotiations. He resigned from his government role to seek the Liberal nomination.

Lyne Bourdages (Green Party) — A childcare worker from the Jonquiere area, Bourdages said she ran for the Greens to help ensure a better environmental future for the next generation.

Sylvie Theodore ran for the People's Party.

About the Riding

The aluminum smelting industry, led by the Rio Tinto complex in Arvida, has been the economic backbone of Jonquiere for a century and remains the largest private-sector employer in the borough. The broader Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean economy also depends on forestry, hydroelectric power generation, and a growing base of small and medium enterprises in sectors such as aluminum transformation. The Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi, located in the neighbouring borough, is a significant employer and research institution. The region faces challenges common to resource-dependent communities, including population decline, an aging workforce, and the need for economic diversification. Federal issues in the 2019 campaign included support for the aluminum and forestry sectors, environmental regulation of industrial operations, regional air transport costs, and investment in local infrastructure.