was handily defeated by his Conservative opponent and incumbent MP Richard Lehoux, who more than doubled Bernier’s vote. Polls showed that Bernier’s riding was his party’s best chance at winning a seat in Parliament this election.
In the Eastern Quebec battleground riding of Gaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Liberal Minister Diane Lebouthillier was leading her Bloc Québécois adversary Luc Bernatchez by over 1,000 votes in a race expected to be very tight. The Conservatives hoped their plea would help them win more seats in the Quebec City area, whereas the Liberals were targeting a slew of Bloc ridings around Montreal.
“I am nationalist, I want Quebec to be more autonomist and have more power. There are three parties that want to give us less autonomy. And I find that dangerous,” added the immensely popular premier.Speaking to reporters before polls closed, Liberal candidate and Quebec lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez said he was “surprised” and “disappointed” by Legault’s intervention.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.