Quebec byelection in Arthabaska riding to be held on Aug. 11
Conservative party leader Éric Duhaime hoping to finally win a provincial seat
Voters in the Centre-du Québec riding of Arthabaska will be heading to the polls this summer in a byelection set for Aug. 11.
The premier's office made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon.
The seat was left vacant in March when former MNA Éric Lefebvre made the jump into federal politics to run for the Conservative Party of Canada.
Lefebvre, who had been Whip for the CAQ was sitting as an Independent since first announcing his intention to join Pierre Poilievre's party in Ottawa.
Four candidates have already announced their intention to join the race to replace Lefebvre, including Éric Duhaime, leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ).
Duhaime, who has headed the party since April 2021, is hoping to finally win a seat at the National Assembly.
The Parti Québécois (PQ), for its part is backing former journalist and broadcaster Alex Boissonneault, who surprised many when he stepped away from his job as the Radio-Canada morning show host in Quebec City in May.
Former business leader Kevin Brasseur will be the CAQ candidate, while Québec solidaire announced health-care worker Pascale Fortin will be its candidate.
The Quebec Liberal Party has not yet announced a candidate.
The latest polls, according to Quebec's polling aggregator website, Qc125, show a tight race between the PQ and the PCQ.
Based on reporting by Lauren McCallum and Radio-Canada