By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
In the wake of a somewhat narrow national Liberal minority win, two familiar names from the Eastern Townships are heading to Ottawa—though their paths were markedly different on election night.
In Brome–Missisquoi, former Bromont mayor Louis Villeneuve secured a solid Liberal victory with 48.2 per cent of the vote, outpacing Bloc Québécois candidate Jeff Boudreault (28.2 per cent) and Conservative Steve Charbonneau (19.0 per cent). Villeneuve, who resigned from his post as mayor on April 29, reflected on the change in scale his new role entails. “As a mayor, I was a big fish in a small pond,” he said. “Now I’ll be a small fish in a big one.”
Despite having hoped for a Liberal majority, Villeneuve said he is confident the minority government under Mark Carney will be able to deliver. “It’s not because we are a minority that we can’t do the job,” he stated. He added that he expects Carney to work across party lines to tackle national issues, especially Canada’s relationship with the United States. “We need to work together to make Canada… I don’t want to say, ‘make Canada great again,’ but you know what I mean.”
Villeneuve emphasized that his top priority is to represent the needs of Brome–Missisquoi residents in Parliament. “My first responsibility is to be the voice of the people here,” he said. Housing, health, the environment, and supply management emerged as key concerns during his campaign. He said his 12 years in municipal politics have shaped his approach to federal work, particularly in bringing a spirit of “proximity” to his new role. “Municipalities are the government closest to the people,” he said. “I want to bring that same connection to Ottawa.”
Across the district line in Shefford, Bloc Québécois MP Andréanne Larouche narrowly held her seat, beating Liberal Félix Dionne by less than one per cent—39.8 to 38.9. “It was very close,” Larouche acknowledged, noting she had been too busy meeting constituents the day after the vote to check whether a recount would be triggered.
Still, she sees her win as a recognition of her past five years of work. “It’s a big recognition of my work and the importance of having someone to speak for Quebec,” she said. Larouche cited local priorities like agriculture, housing, and support for seniors and first-time homebuyers as key items on her agenda. She also pointed to homelessness in Granby and environmental protections, including her ongoing work to safeguard the Yamaska River.
On the national stage, Larouche said the Bloc would “collaborate with everyone” in the House of Commons, ensuring Quebec’s interests are included in upcoming negotiations. “When it’s good for Quebec, we will vote for [it], when it’s not good for Quebec, we will vote against,” she said. Having served under minority governments since 2019, she added, “It’s the same reality. People recognize minority governments can do something—if people collaborate.”
While both Villeneuve and Larouche expressed gratitude for their supporters, neither dwelled on celebrations. Villeneuve said he was catching up on sleep and preparing to staff his new office. “For me, it’s new—I feel like a young boy going to school for the first time,” he joked. Larouche said she was already back to work, meeting with entrepreneurs and voters. “When you’re elected, you have to do your work—and that’s why I’m here again.”
Both MPs will soon rejoin a federal landscape that remains deeply divided, but both say they’re ready to get to work.