National Revenue Minister to leave federal politics to run for mayor of Sherbrooke

SHERBROOKE, Que. — National Revenue Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau will run for mayor of Sherbrooke, Quebec, in municipal elections scheduled for next fall.

The Liberal MP for Quebec’s Compton-Stansted constituency confirmed Monday morning that she will complete her current term in Ottawa but will not seek re-election.

Bibeau, who has served as Minister of National Revenue since July 2023, was first elected in 2015 and has since served as Minister of Agriculture, International Development and Francophonie.

Bibeau said her campaign has not yet officially begun and she will continue to focus on her work as an MP, but she plans to run as an independent candidate to replace outgoing Mayor Evelyn Boden, who has already confirmed she will not seek re-election.

Municipal elections in Quebec are scheduled for November 2, 2025, and the next federal election is due no later than October 20, although the minority Liberal government could fall before then.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to soon reshuffle his Cabinet to replace Bibeau and three other ministers who have told him they do not plan to stand in the next election.

Bibeau’s wife, Bernard Sevigny, was mayor of Sherbrooke from 2009 to 2017.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.

Canadian Press