Journalist Jean‑François Cloutier announced on Monday, August 7, 2026, that he will be the Parti Québécois candidate in the provincial riding of Montarville, a district situated on Montreal’s South Shore.
Cloutier is currently employed as a reporter for the Journal de Montréal. His decision to seek elected office marks a transition from newsroom reporting to a direct role in provincial politics. The announcement was made ahead of the upcoming provincial election, positioning him as the PQ’s chosen representative for the constituency.
Montarville, located across the St. Lawrence River from downtown Montreal, is a defined electoral district that has been part of Quebec’s provincial map for several election cycles. The riding includes a mix of residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas, and its voters have historically been courted by the province’s major parties.
The Parti Québécois, one of Quebec’s longstanding political parties, continues to field candidates across the province in its effort to maintain a presence in the National Assembly. By selecting a media professional such as Cloutier, the party signals an interest in candidates with public communication experience.
While no further details about Cloutier’s campaign platform were released at the time of the announcement, his background in journalism suggests an awareness of current issues affecting the South Shore region. The upcoming campaign period will see him engage with local constituents, address community concerns, and represent the Parti Québécois’s policies in the Montarville riding.
The candidacy adds a new name to the list of individuals seeking to represent Montarville in Quebec’s provincial legislature, and it underscores the ongoing competition among parties to secure voter support in this strategically located district.