Federal byelection in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord scheduled for Aug. 31
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Sunday that a federal byelection for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord will be held on Aug. 31, following the appointment of Conservative MP Richard Martel to the Senate earlier this month. Martel had represented the riding since 2018.
The Aug. 31 date was part of a short press release from the Prime Minister’s Office that also set byelection dates for North Vancouver—Capilano in British Columbia and Beaches—East York in Ontario. Those two ridings were most recently held by Liberal members.
Under federal rules, the prime minister must call a byelection between 11 and 180 days after Elections Canada is formally notified of a vacancy by the Speaker of the House. The timing of the three calls means campaigns in the affected ridings will take place over roughly a one-month period.
What the outcome could mean for the national balance of power
The result in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord takes on added significance because of the Liberals’ slim margin in the House of Commons. Current standings cited in the announcement show the Liberals holding 172 of 343 seats, with the Conservatives at 139, the Bloc Québécois at 21, the NDP at 5, one Green MP, and one independent.
| Party | Seats (House of Commons) |
|---|---|
| Liberals | 172 |
| Conservatives | 139 |
| Bloc Québécois | 21 |
| NDP | 5 |
| Green | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
The Liberals would need to win at least one of the three Aug. 31 byelections to preserve their current working majority after the upcoming departure of Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault, who has said he will step down later this summer. Media reports have indicated Guilbeault’s resignation could take effect around Aug. 28.
Local dynamics: a competitive riding
Chicoutimi—Le Fjord has been a competitive constituency in recent federal contests. In the 2025 election the riding produced one of the closest races in the country, with the winning Conservative candidate taking 34% of the vote and both the Bloc Québécois and Liberals close behind at about 31% each.
- The riding has shifted among parties over the past two decades, electing Liberal, Conservative, Bloc and NDP members since 2000.
- Richard Martel’s move to the Senate removes an incumbent advantage that may influence voter behaviour.
- Political observers expect a tight three-way contest among Conservatives, Liberals and the Bloc in the byelection.
Closer to home, voters and local party organisations now have a compressed period to identify and nominate candidates, mobilize volunteers and frame the issues they intend to carry into the campaign. Historically, byelections have lower turnout than general elections, which can magnify the impact of local ground games and targeted outreach.
A federal vacancy related to Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton remains officially pending after former Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay resigned to pursue provincial politics. That seat was declared vacant by Elections Canada on June 22, but no date has been set for a byelection there.
For residents of Chicoutimi, the Aug. 31 date means a focused period of campaigning in the summer months — a time when municipal and community activities are in full swing — and the possibility that the riding’s choice could have broader implications in Ottawa.
Local candidates and party representatives have until the official start of nomination periods to declare their bids. Elections Canada will publish the full timetable and formal procedures as the byelection approaches.
