Carney’s ‘Tough Man’ Image Proves Effective in Quebec Conservative Stronghold
August 31, 2026 – Three federal byelections held yesterday resulted in three victories for the Liberal Party, but one outcome stood out significantly. In Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, a Quebec riding that has been held by the Conservatives since 2018, Liberal candidate Daniel Gobeil secured 51.3% of the preliminary vote, while Conservative Régis Gaudreault garnered just 12.5%. This marks a major shift in voter sentiment.
Chicoutimi-Le Fjord is in a region where aluminum, forestry, and dairy industries are integral to the local economy. These sectors have faced increased pressure from a growing trade confrontation between Canada and the U.S. As a result, local voters found their choice clear, as reflected in the byelection results.
In the April 2025 federal election, Conservative Richard Martel had won the seat with 34.1% of the vote, narrowly ahead of the Bloc Québécois at 31.2% and the Liberals at 31.1%. At that time, only about three percentage points separated the three parties.
In yesterday’s byelection, that competitive three-way race vanished. Liberal Daniel Gobeil received 16,235 votes, or 51.3%, while Bloc candidate Caroline Dubé came in second with 32.9%. The Conservative candidate, Régis Gaudreault, secured only 3,962 votes, or 12.5%. This represents a drop of 21.6 points in Conservative support from the 2025 election, while the Liberal share increased by 20.2 points.
Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Toronto, noted that Carney’s higher approval ratings in Quebec than in the rest of Canada largely stem from Trump’s disruptive and alarming actions on trade tariffs and his comments about potentially annexing Canada.
“Quebecers have the most to lose in a catastrophic scenario where the U.S. absorbs Canada, leading to a decline in the status of the French language,” Wiseman explained.
The Liberals also successfully retained the ridings of Beaches-East York in Toronto and North Vancouver-Capilano in British Columbia, allowing Prime Minister Carney to sweep all three by-elections. He is now asking Canadians to support a tougher stance against Donald Trump’s tariffs.
“The United States is receiving a message tonight. Our leader has the backing of the Canadian people,” Liberal lawmaker Hedy Fry stated in an interview with a local news portal.
These three victories increased the Liberal caucus to 173 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons, further solidifying the party’s position in Parliament.
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