Pontiac is a swing riding in Quebec's rural west. It was won by the NDP in 2011, and before that by Conservative heavy-weight and close Harper ally, Lawrence Cannon, in 2008 and 2006. Prior to that, it had been held by the Liberals since 1993. In 2006 and 2008, the Bloc Québécois had over 20% of the vote. In 2011, the Conservative candidate secured nearly 30% of the vote. The incumbent, NDP MP Mathieu Ravignat, who is running for re-election this October, received over 45% of the vote.