Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier

Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier is a large federal riding situated to the west and north of Quebec City, sweeping from the St. Lawrence River shoreline near Deschambault-Grondines northward into the Canadian Shield. The riding encompasses the Regional County Municipalities of Portneuf and La Jacques-Cartier as well as the municipality of Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures—a prosperous Quebec City suburb that serves as the riding's most populous community. Other notable centres include Donnacona, Pont-Rouge, Neuville, Shannon, Lac-Beauport, Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, and Saint-Raymond. More than eighty percent of the riding's land is forested, a consequence of the Precambrian rock of the Canadian Shield that dominates the northern portion. The riding is overwhelmingly francophone, with over 95% of residents reporting French as their mother tongue.

Candidates

Joël Godin (Conservative) — Born in 1965, Godin is a former municipal councillor in Saint-Joachim, Quebec, whose family has deep roots in federal politics—his grandfather, Louis-Philippe-Antoine Bélanger, served in the House of Commons in 1962. Godin was first elected in the riding in 2015 and won his third consecutive mandate in 2021. He describes himself as a progressive conservative.

Christian Hébert (Bloc Québécois) — A farmer and master cider maker, Hébert owns Domaine Hébert in Deschambault-Grondines, whose products have earned international recognition and the title of Knight of the National Order of Agricultural Merit. A history graduate, he also served with the Royal 22e Régiment at Valcartier and later as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. He is active in agricultural youth development and sustainable development advocacy.

Sani Diallo (Liberal) — Diallo carried the Liberal banner in the riding, finishing third.

David-Roger Gagnon (NDP) — Gagnon represented the New Democratic Party in the contest.

Nash Mathieu (PPC) — Mathieu ran for the People's Party of Canada.

Tommy Pelletier (Rhinoceros) — Pelletier represented the satirical Rhinoceros Party.

About the Riding

Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier straddles two distinct geographic zones. The southern tier, running along the St. Lawrence, features productive agricultural land and historic seigneurial villages like Neuville and Deschambault-Grondines, known for their stone churches and heritage architecture. The northern portion climbs into the Laurentian highlands, where ski resorts around Stoneham and Lac-Beauport draw visitors from Quebec City and beyond. Saint-Raymond, deeper in the interior, serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation in the Jacques-Cartier Valley.

Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, located at the riding's eastern edge, is one of Quebec City's wealthiest suburbs, with a rapidly growing population of young families drawn by new residential developments and proximity to the capital's employment centres. This suburban growth contrasts with the slower demographic trends in the riding's more rural communities, where an aging population and limited services present ongoing challenges.

The riding has been a Conservative stronghold in recent elections, one of the party's most reliable seats in Quebec. Local economic concerns include labour shortages in the agricultural and forestry sectors, the sustainability of small-town services, and the environmental management of the Jacques-Cartier River watershed. CFB Valcartier, a major Canadian Forces base, lies just outside the riding's eastern boundary and is a significant employer for residents of Shannon and neighbouring communities.