Conservatives defend narrow Chicoutimi–Le Fjord margin as by-election voting opens

Voting opened August 31 in Chicoutimi–Le Fjord, where Conservatives must fill the seat Richard Martel vacated to join the Senate. Martel won the 2025 race by roughly 1,500 votes over Liberal and Bloc rivals. McGill's Daniel Béland says a Conservative loss would reinforce the view that Pierre Poilievre's leadership is faltering.