Montreal has ushered in a new era of leadership with the election of Soraya Martinez Ferrada, a Chilean-born refugee and former federal cabinet minister, as its new mayor. Her victory marks a powerful shift in the city’s political landscape, ending eight years of progressive governance under Projet Montréal.
Martinez Ferrada, leading the centrist Ensemble Montréal, secured 43 per cent of the vote, defeating Luc Rabouin, the successor to outgoing Mayor Valérie Plante, who did not seek re-election. With her win, Martinez Ferrada becomes Montreal’s first mayor from a diverse background, following Plante’s historic tenure as the city’s first female mayor.
“Tonight, Montreal has chosen courage and ambition,” she declared in her victory speech. “We’ve broken a new glass ceiling — and sent a clear message that change is needed.”
Her campaign focused on addressing pressing urban issues, especially homelessness, vowing to triple the city’s budget for the unhoused and end encampments within four years. She also promised to audit the city’s bike lanes, a hallmark of Plante’s administration, hinting that some may be removed to balance the needs of drivers and businesses.
Despite her decisive victory, the election drew low voter turnout, with roughly one-third of eligible Montrealers casting ballots. Nonetheless, Ensemble Montréal is poised to hold a majority on city council, leading in 35 of 65 seats.
Martinez Ferrada’s personal story resonates deeply with Montreal’s multicultural population. Arriving in Canada in 1980 as a child refugee fleeing Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship, she went on to serve as a city councillor (2005–2009) and later as a federal MP and minister in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, before stepping down earlier this year to run for mayor.
Even her rival, Rabouin, acknowledged the historic nature of her win, calling it “a proud moment for the Latin American community and all Montrealers with immigrant roots.”
Elsewhere in Quebec’s municipal elections, Bruno Marchand was re-elected mayor of Quebec City, while former federal minister Marie-Claude Bibeau secured a win in Sherbrooke. In Laval, Stéphane Boyer maintained his post with a strong majority.
For Montreal, Martinez Ferrada’s victory symbolizes more than just political change — it’s a story of resilience, representation, and a renewed promise to make the city fairer, more inclusive, and ambitiously forward-looking.