Conservatives defend razor-thin Chicoutimi–Le Fjord seat as by-election voting opens

Voting opened August 31 in Chicoutimi–Le Fjord, where Conservatives must replace Richard Martel after his resignation to join the Senate. Martel won the 2025 race by about 1,500 votes over Liberal and Bloc candidates. McGill's Daniel Béland says a Conservative loss would reinforce the narrative that Pierre Poilievre's leadership is in trouble.