Manicouagan

One of the largest federal ridings in eastern Canada by area, Manicouagan stretches along Quebec's North Shore from Forestville east to the Labrador border, extending deep into the boreal interior. The riding's population is concentrated in the coastal towns of Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles, while vast tracts of boreal forest and hydroelectric infrastructure dominate the hinterland.

Candidates

Marilène Gill (Bloc Québécois) — A literature teacher at Cégep de Baie-Comeau, Gill was first elected in 2015 and sought a second term. During the campaign, she advocated for making North Shore businesses eligible for the Atlantic Investment Tax Credit and pledged to hold a regional forum on transportation access for remote communities.

Dave Savard (Liberal) — Savard held a doctoral degree in political and social philosophy and taught philosophy at Cégep de Baie-Comeau. He had also worked as a forest entrepreneur. His campaign priorities included the extension of Route 138 and the construction of a bridge over the Saguenay River.

François Corriveau (Conservative) — Corriveau was the director general of the City of Baie-Comeau. He had previously served as a member of Quebec's National Assembly for the ADQ, and his campaign called for the appointment of a federal minister responsible for Quebec's regions.

Colleen McCool (NDP), Jacques Gélineau (Green Party), and Gabriel Côté (People's Party) also stood in the riding.

About the Riding

Manicouagan's economy revolves around hydroelectric power, mining, aluminum smelting, and forestry. The Daniel-Johnson Dam on the Manicouagan River, one of the world's largest multiple-arch-and-buttress dams, anchors the region's massive hydroelectric generating capacity operated by Hydro-Québec. Sept-Îles serves as a port for iron ore shipped from mines in the interior, while Baie-Comeau houses an Alcoa aluminum smelter and the Resolute Forest Products paper mill. Several Innu reserves fall within the riding's boundaries, and a significant share of the population identifies as Indigenous, with Innu-aimun spoken alongside French. Isolation is a persistent local issue — Route 138, the only paved road along the coast, remains unfinished east of Kegaska, leaving several communities accessible only by boat or plane. The 2019 campaign focused on transportation infrastructure, resource royalties, and federal investment in the region.