Décision 2025
Sophie Demers
Local Journalism Initiative
Published in the Pontiac Journal on April 9, 2025.
PONTIAC – On April 28, Canadians everywhere will vote for their local MP, which will determine Canada’s next government and Prime Minister. In our riding of Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi, at press time, representatives of four political parties are registered.
Claude Bertrand – Green Party (GP)
Currently retired, Bertrand served in the Canadian Armed forces as a pilot and flight instructor for 19 years. Prior to military service, he worked as an engineer for 16 years. He holds a Bachleor’s of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering. He has resided in La Pêche for nine years.
Sophie Chatel – Liberal Party (LPC)
Our present MP, elected in 2021; she chaired Parliament’s Rural Caucus. Previously a civil servant, she holds degrees in Law and Taxation. She is the former head of the Tax Treaty Unit of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and has lived in our riding since 2002.
Todd Hoffman – People’s Party of Canada (PPC)
Hoffman, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, has managed a local construction company, and launched a microbrewery in Campbell’s Bay; he is also a supply teacher at Pontiac High. Hoffman has been a member of the Pontic Chamber of Commerce, serving as president and currently as vice-president.
Brian Nolan – Conservative Party (CPC)
Nolan is a Senior Program Officer of the Canadian Border Services Agency, with 25 years in the civil service. He holds a computer programming degree and has owned an IT consulting company and an Ottawa food store. He has volunteered with Des Collines Minor Hockey, serving as both president and vice-president. He lives in Chelsea.
Gilbert Whiteduck – New Democratic Party (NDP)
Whiteduck was born and raised in the riding and served on the band council of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg for 20 years, including seven years as chief. He has worked for 30 years in education, holds four university degrees, and has served for two years as Senior Education Advisor with the First Nations Education Council.
There will be two opportunities to hear the candidates discuss the issues of this election. First is a question-and-answer and debate, not open to the public, held Tuesday, April 8, at the Pontiac Conference Centre in Fort-Coulonge. Organized by CHIP FM, the Regional Association of West Quebecers (RAWQ) and Le Droit, it will be broadcast over CHIP FM on Wednesday, April 9, at 4 pm.
The second, “A conversation with the candidates”, is organized by the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce and Shawville’s Equity newspaper; this event is again not open to the public but will be broadcast online.
The Journal will publish a bilingual list of questions from the public with the candidates’ answers in the April 23 edition.
To vote, you must be registered with Elections Canada; to do this and verify your riding, check Elections Canada’s website: www.elections.ca.
