Zumretay Arkin named Bloc candidate in Laurier-Sainte-Marie byelection

Zumretay Arkin will represent the Bloc Québécois in the Laurier-Sainte-Marie federal byelection, Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet announced Sunday morning at a press briefing at Place Vauquelin in Montreal.

The riding was left vacant when Steven Guilbeault, a former Liberal MP and minister, resigned. Stéphane Perrault, the Chief Electoral Officer, received notice of the vacancy on Aug. 31. The byelection has not yet been officially called. The riding was held by Gilles Duceppe from 1990 to 2011.

Arkin is described as a former vice president of the World Uyghur Congress. Arkin arrived in Quebec at age ten, grew up in Montreal, and has fought for Uyghur self-determination, including at the United Nations. "This struggle has taught me just how precious it is for a people to be able to decide their own future. Quebec has a rich cultural and linguistic heritage that must absolutely be defended," Arkin said. Arkin also said, "I believe that the values shared by the residents of Laurier-Sainte-Marie resonate with me as well."

The NDP has nominated Nimâ Machouf, an epidemiologist running in the riding for a fourth time after losing in 2019, 2021 and 2025 to Guilbeault. In 2025 Guilbeault took 52.1 per cent, Machouf 18.8 per cent, Bloc candidate Emmanuel Lapierre 15.4 per cent and Conservative Mathieu Fournier 9.2 per cent.

The Bloc's announcement comes as the federal government is expected to call six byelections, three in Quebec.