Argenteuil--La Petite-Nation

Argenteuil--La Petite-Nation stretches across a broad swath of rural and semi-rural Quebec northwest of Montreal, running along the Ottawa River from the fringes of the Gatineau area through the towns of Thurso, Montebello, and Lachute. Created during the 2012 redistribution, the riding encompasses parts of the Laurentians and the Outaouais, with a population of approximately 109,000. The landscape is a mix of rolling agricultural land, small-town commercial centres, and vacation country dotted with lakes and ski hills. The riding is predominantly francophone but includes anglophone pockets in the Argenteuil area near Lachute.

Candidates

Stephane Lauzon (Liberal) is the incumbent, first elected in 2015 and now in his fourth consecutive term. Born in 1966, he worked at the Canadian International Paper Company in the 1980s before returning to school to become a certified vocational instructor. He spent two decades in vocational training, then started a construction management company. Lauzon served as a Gatineau city councillor from 2009 to 2015, chairing the municipal sports and recreation committee, before winning the federal seat.

Martin Charron (Conservative) is a lifelong Brownsburg-Chatham resident and entrepreneur who has owned businesses since the age of 17, most recently a spice, seasoning, and food distribution company. He served as a municipal councillor in Brownsburg-Chatham and as interim mayor. He has been active with the Ligue d'action civique, an organization fighting municipal corruption in Quebec, and organized the yearly community guignolee before Christmas.

Martin Heroux (Bloc Quebecois) is a well-known Quebec comedian and television actor, with credits on popular series including STAT and District 31 and four Gemeaux Award nominations. Originally from Temiscamingue and the son of a baker, Heroux put all his acting contracts on pause to run for the Bloc. He campaigned on agricultural supply management and rural transportation, issues close to the riding's farming communities.

Michel Welt (NDP) ran as the New Democratic Party candidate.

Bertha Fuchsman-Small (Green Party) carried the Green Party banner in the riding.

Lindsey Therrien (People's Party - PPC) ran under the People's Party of Canada.

About the Riding

Argenteuil--La Petite-Nation is quintessentially rural Quebec, with agriculture forming the economic backbone of much of the riding. Dairy farming, maple syrup production, and mixed agriculture sustain communities across the interior, while the Ottawa River corridor supports tourism, recreation, and small-scale manufacturing. Lachute, the largest town, serves as the commercial hub for the Argenteuil region and hosts one of Quebec's oldest agricultural fairs. Montebello, home to the historic Chateau Montebello, draws visitors year-round.

The riding has been a battleground between the Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois for a decade. Lauzon held off tight Bloc challenges in both 2019 and 2021, and the 2025 race was again competitive, with the Conservatives also making a strong bid for second place. The riding's political character reflects a population that values local representation and tangible constituency service over ideological alignment.

In 2025, the cost of living was the dominant concern, particularly for rural households dependent on personal vehicles and facing rising fuel and grocery prices. Health-care access in smaller communities -- where family physicians are scarce and emergency rooms have reduced hours -- remained a persistent frustration. Agricultural trade policy, including the defence of supply management for dairy and poultry, resonated deeply in a riding where farming is not merely an economic activity but a way of life.