Quebec Nov. 9 byelection: René-Lévesque

The Parti Québécois's Marjolain Dufour was first elected in 2003 in René-Lévesque and handily re-elected in 2007, 2008, 2012, and 2014. Dufour, 56, retired in September, citing health reasons.

In 2014, Dufour won for the PQ with 55 per cent of the vote, by a majority of 6,663 over the Liberal party.

Riding description

The electoral district of René-Lévesque comprises the following municipalities: Baie-Comeau, Baie-Trinité, Chute-aux-Outardes, Colombier, Forestville, Franquelin, Godbout, Les Bergeronnes, Les Escoumins, Longue-Rive, Pointe-aux-Outardes, Pointe-Lebel, Portneuf-sur-Mer, Ragueneau, Sacré-Coeur and Tadoussac.

It includes the Innu communities of Essipit and Pessamit, as well as Lac-au-Brochet and Rivière-aux-Outardes.

Riding history 

Until 2003, René-Levesque was called Saguenay, before being renamed in honour of the founding leader of the Parti Québécois and Quebec premier.

The riding has almost exclusively voted for the PQ, with the exception of 2002, when Action démocratique's François Corriveau won in a byelection before being defeated by Dufour a year later.

Riding snapshot

Population: 43,555 (2011)

Registered Electors: 34,459 (2014)

Average household income: $35,950 (2011 National Household Survey)

Mother tongue: French (93.6 per cent), English (0.6 per cent), non-official languages (5.8 per cent; largest linguistic group is Innu-aimun)

Official list of candidates

• Claire du Sablon (Québec solidaire)

• Karine Otis (Parti libéral du Québec/Quebec Liberal Party) 

• Martin Ouellet (Parti québécois) 

• Yan Rivard (Option nationale - Pour l'indépendance du Québec) 

• Dave Savard (Coalition avenir Québec - L'équipe François Legault) 

2014 Election Results