Richard Martel is a Member of Parliament and a staunch supporter of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.
Born and raised in Chicoutimi, Mr. Martel worked in the field of education before embarking on a long career in hockey. From 1990 to 2011, he coached in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, primarily with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. He was named Coach of the Year twice. He later worked in Sweden and in France. Upon returning to Québec, he led the Jonquière Marquis to the league championship. He concluded his hockey career after serving as Commissioner of the Ligue nord-américaine de hockey.
Elected in 2018 as the Member of Parliament for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, Mr. Martel was re-elected in 2019, 2021, and 2025. During his time in Parliament, he has served as the Official Opposition Critic for National Defence, the Conservative Party of Canada’s Québec Lieutenant, and the Shadow Minister for Sport and Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. He has also sat on several parliamentary committees, including those of National Defence and Natural Resources.
Mr. Martel holds two bachelor’s degrees from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.