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Canada Votes 2008

Results, Ridings and Candidates

Trois-Rivières

2008 Results

Trois-Rivières
Party Candidate Votes Status
Updated: Nov. 7, 2008 5:00 PM EST 230/230 polls
BQ Paule Brunelle 22,404 Elected
CON Claude Durand 11,998
LIB Marcos G. Simard 9,008
NDP Geneviève Boivin 4,544
GRN Ariane Blais 1,540

Unofficial results were updated at the time shown following judicial recounts in six ridings. For more recent results, visit Elections Canada. The CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. External links will open in a new window.

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This mainly urban riding on the St. Lawrence River includes the former cities of Trois-Rivières, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, St-Louis-de-France and Ste-Marthe-du-Cap, all now part of Trois-Rivières. Rivière St-Maurice separates the former city of Trois-Rivières from other former cities in the riding.

The major industry, pulp and paper, is based in Trois-Rivières. Manufacturing accounts for 15 per cent of employment, followed by retail trade at 14 per cent. Average family income is $62,435 and unemployment is 8.3 per cent.

According to the 2006 census, 97 per cent of the population cited French as a first language, while slightly under one per cent selected English. The total immigrant population was just over two per cent. Almost 19 per cent of the population is older than 65.

In 2004, 51 per cent of Trois-Rivières was combined with 53 per cent of Champlain riding to the east. The riding of Trois-Rivières was established in 1933. The riding existed as Trois-Rivières Métropolitan in the 1972 and 1974 elections. The riding of Trois-Rivières was re-established in 1976. In 1996, 11 per cent of Berthier-Montcalm was added.

Population: 94,272 (2006 census; an increase of 2.2% since 2001)

Political History

The Conservatives gained a lot of ground in the 2006 election, but the Bloc Québécois still emerged on top. Paule Brunelle beat Tory candidate Luc Menard to win a second term.

In 2004 in Trois-Rivières, Bloc Québécois candidate Paule Brunelle defeated Liberal Jean-éric Guindon by 12,537 votes. Yves Rocheleau of the BQ served three terms from 1993-2004. In 2000 in Champlain, BQ candidate Marcel Gagnon defeated Liberal Julie Boulet by a mere 15 votes.

Trois-Rivières was held by Progressive Conservative Léon Balcer from 1949 to 1963, but independent J.A. Mongrain won in 1965. Mongrain was elected as a Liberal in 1968. Liberal Claude G. Lajoie was elected in the 1971 byelection and held the seat for four terms. PC Pierre Vincent won in 1984 and 1988. He was minister of consumer and corporate affairs, minister of state for Indian affairs and northern development and minister of environment in 1993. In 1993, the BQ's Rocheleau ousted Vincent.

Champlain riding voted Social Credit in 1968, 1972 and 1974, Liberal in 1979 and 1980 and PC in 1984 and 1988. BQ RéJean Lefebvre won in 1993 and 1997. He entered guilty pleas to drunk driving charges in 1994 and 1996. In 1998, he was again charged but the case was dismissed because of administrative foul-ups. He sat as an independent from 1999.

  • 1935 - IND LIB
  • 1940 - LIB
  • 1945 - IND
  • 1949-63 inclusive - PC
  • 1965 - IND
  • 1968 - LIB
  • 1971 byelection-1980 inclusive - LIB
  • 1984, 1988 - PC
  • 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 - BQ