Richmond—Arthabaska

Richmond—Arthabaska is a sprawling rural riding in the Centre-du-Québec and Estrie regions, situated east of Drummondville and north of Sherbrooke. The riding encompasses the Regional County Municipalities of Arthabaska, Les Sources, and the centre of Le Val-Saint-François, covering an area of approximately 3,563 square kilometres. Its primary population centre is Victoriaville, a mid-sized town known for its commitment to sustainable development. Val-des-Sources (formerly Asbestos) and a constellation of smaller communities—Warwick, Kingsey Falls, Danville, Richmond—round out the riding. The landscape consists of gently rolling Appalachian foothills, productive farmland, and forested valleys, with Mont Ham rising to 713 metres as the riding's highest point. The population stands at roughly 100,000, predominantly francophone.

Candidates

Alain Rayes (Conservative) — Born in 1971 in Victoriaville to a family of Egyptian origin, Rayes earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics with a specialization in computer science education and a master's in educational administration. He began his career as a teacher before becoming director of the Polyvalente Le Boisé in Victoriaville. He entered municipal politics as mayor of Victoriaville in 2009 and was re-elected by acclamation in 2013, overseeing the construction of several major cultural and sports facilities. He won the federal riding in 2015 and served as the Conservative Party's Quebec lieutenant under Andrew Scheer and Erin O'Toole. He secured a third mandate in 2021.

Diego Scalzo (Bloc Québécois) — The mayor of Warwick from 2013 to 2021, Scalzo resigned his municipal office to run federally. A community development professional, he served as director of the Corporation de développement communautaire of Val-Saint-François and sat on numerous regional municipal boards. He is recognized for his leadership in sustainable development and agricultural youth engagement. He was awarded the Knight of the National Order of Agricultural Merit.

Alexandre Desmarais (Liberal) — Desmarais represented the Liberal Party of Canada in the contest.

Nataël Bureau (NDP) — Bureau carried the New Democratic Party banner in the riding.

About the Riding

Richmond—Arthabaska occupies a historically significant place in Quebec's industrial and agricultural landscape. Victoriaville has branded itself as a leader in sustainable development, hosting the annual Salon de l'environnement and investing in green infrastructure. The town's furniture manufacturing and agri-food processing industries are major employers, though labour shortages have become a pressing concern across the riding's small and medium enterprises.

Val-des-Sources—renamed from Asbestos in 2020 to shed the stigma of its chrysotile mining past—is undergoing an economic reinvention. The closure of the Jeffrey Mine, once the world's largest open-pit asbestos mine, left a crater in the town's economy and identity. Diversification efforts have focused on attracting new industries and repurposing the former mining infrastructure.

The riding has been one of the Conservative Party's strongest footholds in Quebec, a distinction in a province where the party has historically struggled. Rayes's personal popularity, rooted in his municipal track record and moderate brand of conservatism, contributed to his consistent margins of victory. Agricultural policy, rural broadband expansion, and support for small manufacturers are the issues that tend to dominate local political debate. The riding's Appalachian geography also makes it attractive for outdoor recreation and agritourism, sectors with growing economic potential.