James Hughes, the president and chief executive officer of Montreal’s Old Brewery Mission, has been chosen as the Quebec Liberal candidate in the riding of Vaudreuil for this fall’s general election, party sources confirmed Wednesday.
High-profile recruit in a tight riding
The selection, to be formally announced by Liberal leader Charles Milliard, follows the surprise decision by incumbent MNA Marie-Claude Nichols not to seek re-election for family reasons. Nichols carried Vaudreuil in 2022 by a narrow margin of 576 votes, making the constituency one of the more competitive battlegrounds on Montreal’s western flank.
Hughes brings a profile shaped by decades in the social-services sector and a background in law. Born in Montreal and raised in Verdun, he earned his law degree from McGill University in 1991 and has been a public voice on poverty and housing issues.
From charity executive to candidate
Hughes first led the Old Brewery Mission as executive director from 2004 to 2008 before spending time with the government of New Brunswick. He returned to the Montreal institution as president and CEO in September 2020, guiding the 137-year-old organisation through a period of modernisation while it continued to provide services to people experiencing homelessness.
Described by observers as a candidate who strengthens the Liberals’ social-policy credentials, Hughes contrasts with other recent high-profile Liberal recruits who have been chosen primarily for economic expertise. His experience is likely to foreground housing, poverty and social-program delivery in the party’s local messaging.
Recognition and public engagement
Hughes is bilingual and the author of three books on social services. He is also a frequent commentator in media and academic forums on homelessness and poverty. In 2025 he received the National Assembly’s medal of honour for what the assembly called “an outstanding career dedicated to social commitment and supporting the underprivileged.”
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Graduated in law from McGill University |
| 2004–2008 | Executive director, Old Brewery Mission |
| September 2020 | Appointed president and CEO, Old Brewery Mission |
| 2025 | Received National Assembly medal of honour |
Local implications and the riding outlook
Vaudreuil sits immediately west of the Island of Montreal and has been contested territory for the Liberals since the 2022 election. With Nichols stepping aside, the Liberals have moved quickly to name a candidate with name recognition and established community ties in Montreal’s social-services sector.
For the governing and opposition parties, the riding’s small 2022 margin underlines how strategic candidate selection can be. A candidate with deep experience on housing and homelessness may appeal to both urban voters concerned about social services and families worried about community supports — but it will also open the Liberals to questions about how provincial policy would translate into local outcomes.
- Vaudreuil’s 2022 margin: 576 votes — a competitive riding
- Hughes’s strengths: sector expertise, bilingualism, public recognition
- Key issues likely to surface: housing, poverty reduction, social-program delivery
What to watch next
The Liberals will formally unveil Hughes’s candidacy Thursday, according to party sources. The announcement comes a day after another notable Liberal recruitment: Michel Leblanc, the former head of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, was named as the caucus hopeful in Marguerite‑Bourgeoys, signalling a dual approach to shore up both social and economic credentials across battleground ridings.
In Vaudreuil, voters will soon assess whether a charity leader with policy expertise and public recognition can translate that background into local votes. The new candidate’s campaign platform, local outreach plans and responses to questions about balancing charity leadership with political office will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
This selection also raises practical questions about campaign logistics and transition at the Old Brewery Mission. Any operational changes at the organisation as Hughes shifts toward electoral politics will be watched by partners and clients alike.
As the campaign period advances, Hughes’s record on homelessness and his ideas for provincial action on housing will likely become central themes in his bid for the seat in a riding that has already proven to be electorally delicate.
