Hochelaga

The riding of Hochelaga covers the east-central portion of the Island of Montreal, encompassing the neighbourhood of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and parts of Longue-Pointe in the borough of Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, the eastern section of Rosemont in Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, and the eastern edge of Centre-Sud in the borough of Ville-Marie. This is a densely urban district with a strong working-class heritage. Hochelaga-Maisonneuve was once known as the Pittsburgh of Canada for its concentration of heavy industry—factories, shoe manufacturers, and textile mills dominated the neighbourhood from the late 19th century until economic decline set in during the 1980s. In recent years, the area has undergone significant gentrification, with rising rents, new condominium developments, and an influx of cafés and boutiques transforming the streetscape.

Candidates

Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Liberal) — Born in Santiago, Chile, Martinez Ferrada arrived in Montreal at the age of eight as a political refugee fleeing the Pinochet dictatorship. She earned a master's degree in management from HEC Montréal and worked at TOHU, a performing arts venue in Montreal's east end, where she created its first cultural and socio-professional integration program. She served on Montreal city council from 2005 to 2009 as a member of Union Montréal. Elected to the House of Commons in 2019—the first Liberal to win Hochelaga since 1988—she ran for re-election in 2021.

Simon Marchand (Bloc Québécois) — A specialist in digital fraud management and prevention with more than a dozen years of experience in the banking and telecommunications sectors, Marchand had been a resident of Hochelaga for over 12 years. The 2021 campaign was his third consecutive run as the Bloc candidate in the riding, following competitive showings in 2015 and 2019.

Catheryn Roy-Goyette (NDP) — A former political aide to outgoing NDP MP Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, Roy-Goyette took up the party's banner when Boutin-Sweet did not seek re-election. She had deep roots in the local NDP organization.

Aime Calle Cabrera (Conservative) — Calle Cabrera ran as the Conservative candidate in Hochelaga in 2021.

About the Riding

Hochelaga has been a federal electoral district since Confederation in 1867, originally covering the entire eastern portion of the Island of Montreal. In its current form, it was recreated in 2003 from parts of the former Hochelaga—Maisonneuve and Laurier—Sainte-Marie ridings. The NDP held the seat from 2011 to 2019 under Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, who rode the Orange Wave to victory.

The dominant local issue heading into 2021 was the controversial Ray-Mont Logistiques project—a proposed container transhipment terminal on rue Notre-Dame Est that sparked fierce opposition from residents concerned about noise, air quality, heavy truck traffic, and the impact on the adjacent Viauville neighbourhood. The project became a flashpoint during the federal campaign, with all major candidates staking out positions on the file.

Housing affordability and gentrification remained central preoccupations. Rents in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve rose sharply in recent years, and many long-time residents on modest incomes faced displacement. The low-income rate in the neighbourhood exceeded the Montreal average, and the secondary school graduation rate lagged behind the rest of the city. The riding's political terrain was fiercely competitive—the 2019 contest between Martinez Ferrada and Marchand was decided by a razor-thin margin.