Introducing the Gatineau Candidates for the upcoming federal election  

Sophie Demers 

Canadians across the country will cast their vote for the next federal election on April 28. The following is an introduction of the candidates from all parties running in the Gatineau electoral district: 

Rachid Jemmah, Green Party of Canada (GPC)

• Rachid Jemmah previously studied real estate. He has been a manager for McDonald’s restaurants in the region for over 20 years during which he helped his community during the 2017 floods and the 2018 tornado. Annually, Jemmah participates in the Grand McDon event that helps fundraise for sick children. He is the father of three children he is raising in Gatineau. 

Steven MacKinnon, Liberal Party of Canada (LPC)

• Steven Mackinnon was first elected as Gatineau’s MP in 2015. He was recently appointed Minister of Jobs and Families and was previously the Minister of Labour and Seniors. Mackinnon also held the role of Chief Government Whip and parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement. This will be MacKinnon's fourth time running as the Liberal candidate for Gatineau.

Richard Nadeau, Bloc Québécois (BQ)

• Richard Nadeau served as MNA in Gatineau from 2006 to 2011. He has a master’s degree in educational administration and three bachelor's degrees (history, social sciences and education). He was co-chair of the Canada-Palestine Friendship Group. Nadeau is an active community member serving as President of the Coopérative des consommateurs de la Laiterie de l'Outaouais and Vice-President of the Société d'Histoire de l'Outaouais.

Kethlande Pierre, Conservative Party of Canada (CPC)

• Kethlande Pierre is Deputy Director of the National Client Service Centre at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. She has a master's degree in industrial engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal, as well as a bachelor's from Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. She was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Pierre was also the recipient of Gatineau's 2020 Woman of Influence Award. 

Mathieu Saint-Jean, People's Party of Canada (PPC)

• Mathieu Saint-Jean ran for Mayor of Gatineau in the 2024 by-election. He has experience in customer service and human resources. According to the CBC, Saint-Jean pled guilty in 2023 to obstructing a police officer in 2021 and, at the time, was discharged with conditions. Later, he told Radio-Canada that the incident was related to mandatory COVID-19 masking in a store. 

Daniel Simoncic, New Democratic Party (NDP)

• No information has been released about the candidate at press time.

For more information about the electoral district and how to vote, visit the Elections Canada Website.