Federal Election 2015: Ahuntsic-Cartierville riding results

Summary: This riding, a new version of the former Ahuntsic riding, is one to watch. The incumbent MP, Maria Mourani, was elected here in 2006, 2008 and 2011 as a member of the Bloc Québécois, but she left that party in 2013 and is now running for the NDP. She’ll face high-profile Liberal candidate Mélanie Joly, who was a surprise second place finisher in the mayoral race in Montreal in 2013. The boundary changes in this riding may also give the Liberal candidate an edge. The last four elections here have all been close, with margins of victory ranging from 1,200 votes to less than 500. 

Boundaries: This riding now includes all of the Montreal borough of Ahuntsic-Cartierville that lies southwest of Papineau Avenue/Papineau highway. Residents here were formerly represented in Ahuntsic and Saint-Laurent—Cartierville.

Last Election: In Ahuntsic in 2011, Mourani, running for the Bloc Québécois, took 31.8 per cent of the vote, followed by the NDP’s Chantal Reeves with 30.3 per cent, and Liberal Noushig Eloyan with 27.9 per cent.

Voters living within the new boundaries of this riding voted 31.1 percent Liberal, 29.9 per cent NDP, and 28.3 per cent BQ in 2011.

Demographics: 39.7 per cent of residents in this riding were immigrants as of the last census, the fifth highest number in Quebec. 11.7 per cent identified as Arab, the fourth highest figure in the country.

History: This was a Liberal riding from 1997 to 2006 for MP Eleni Bakopanos. She tried to retake the seat in 2008, but lost to Mourani by just 423 votes.

Candidates

Conservative: Wiliam Moughrabi, furniture store manager

NDP: Maria Mourani, MP since 2006

Liberal: Mélanie Joly, lawyer, 2013 mayoral candidate

Bloc Québécois:  Nicolas Bourdon, Public speaking teacher, Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne

Green: Gilles Mercier

Rhino: Catherine Gascon-David