[4] At the conference, which saw Mike Duggan, city councillor for Pointe-Gatineau District as the only other elected official in attendance,[5] she announced that she would not be forming a municipal political party nor team and that she would be resigning as mayor effective immediately.

In addition, then-Mayor Bélisle mused with the idea of forming a political party prior to her resignation from the mayoralty.

[9][10][11][12][13] As Bélisle resigned with more than 12 months left in her term, according to the Act Respecting Elections and Referendums in Municipalities, a by-election must be held to replace her.

Candidates who are members of the city council at the time of filing their candidacy must also resign their position in order to run in the by-election.

[28] Stéphane Bisson is a real estate broker who previously served as the President of the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce from 2021 to 2024, when he resigned to ensure no conflicts of interest arose while he was considering running for Mayor.

[31] Daniel Feeny is a marketing expert who served as the spokesperson and Director of Communications and Intergovernmental Relations for former Mayor France Bélisle from 2021 to 2024.

Prior to entering politics, he was the director of marketing for the National Capital Commission and a manager at the Department of Canadian Heritage in the Government of Canada.