Stéphane Paquet, CEO of Montréal International, launches PQ campaign in Pointe-aux-Trembles

Stéphane Paquet, president and CEO of Montréal International since 2020, announced he is running for the Parti Québécois in the riding of Pointe-aux-Trembles.

Paquet's career spans media — he worked for Radio-Canada, Le Soleil, La Presse, and Les Affaires — and government diplomacy. He served as Quebec's Delegate General in London from 2012 to 2014. At Montréal International, he led efforts to attract foreign investment, international organizations, and international talent to Greater Montreal.

In a press release, PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon called Paquet "a key player in the economic circles of Montreal, but also throughout Quebec." Plamondon highlighted Paquet's "extensive experience" and "deep understanding of the economic issues facing Quebec and Montreal."

Paquet argues that Quebec's economic development model needs a "complete overhaul." He proposes reducing government assistance to certain winning companies through forgivable loans and subsidies, redirecting those savings to reduce the tax burden for small and medium enterprises. "We have to put an end to the Fitzgibbon lottery. We've lost enough money already," he declared, referring to the government's discretionary business-support programs.

In Pointe-aux-Trembles, Paquet will face incumbent MNA Chantal Rouleau of the Coalition Avenir Québec, seeking a third term. The Liberal Party of Quebec will field Naïma Marylène Indira Som, Québec solidaire will run Mégane Charron, and the Conservative Party of Quebec will run Maxim Tremblay-Gaudet.