December 09, 2013 - 5:46 PM
MONTREAL - Quebec Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard has won a byelection that will allow him to sit in the national assembly.
Couillard strolled to victory in the Montreal riding of Outremont on Monday with more than 50 per cent of the vote.
The win was hardly surprising because the riding has traditionally been Liberal and because the governing Parti Quebecois and the Coalition for Quebec's Future did not field candidates.
Couillard has been Liberal leader since last March.
Outremont became available after former Liberal finance minister Raymond Bachand resigned following a failed leadership bid.
The Liberals also emerged victorious in a second byelection in Montreal on Monday, with David Heurtel easing to victory in Viau.
The Liberal wins give Couillard's party 50 members in the 125-seat national assembly, four behind the PQ. The Coalition has 18, while the leftist Quebec solidaire has two. There is one Independent.
Viau became vacant when Liberal incumbent Emmanuel Dubourg resigned to run successfully for the federal Liberals to replace former MP Denis Coderre.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013