Article content

QUEBEC — Voters in the riding of Louis-Hébert handed the Liberals a serious kick in the teeth Monday, electing a Coalition Avenir Québec MNA and giving the party a useful springboard for the looming general election.

Even more humiliating for the Liberals, who have held the riding since 2003, they came close to placing third behind the Parti Québécois — a party that has not done well in this francophone federalist region for years.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Quebec byelection: CAQ takes Louis-Hébert riding in landslide upset win over Liberals Back to video

The CAQ’s upset win — a classic political shellacking — rapidly put a damper on the Liberal election evening in a suburban pub with party members and a scattering of cabinet ministers trying to keep a brave face while quietly sipping wine and beer.

The trouncing was clear and the Liberals conceded defeat early with Premier Philippe Couillard arriving before 10 p.m. to speak to supporters. He did not acknowledge any errors on the part of Liberals and said the Liberals would continue on the same path.