Guy Cormier’s selection as the Liberal candidate in the December 7, 2026 by-election for the Laurier—Sainte-Marie riding has driven the market’s strong consensus. The Montreal seat has been held by Liberals since 2015, with the party securing over 51 percent in the 2025 general election despite the resignation of former MP Steven Guilbeault. Cormier, former Desjardins Group CEO, brings significant business and community profile in Quebec and was announced in late October 2026. Forecasts project the Liberals well ahead of the NDP’s Nimâ Machouf, the Bloc Québécois’s Zumretay Arkin, and other contenders, consistent with historical patterns in the riding. A late shift in Quebec voter sentiment or unusually low turnout could narrow margins, though current evidence points to limited scope for such changes before voting.