sentences:  In 2007, Coulon entered federal politics when he was handpicked by Liberal leader Stéphane Dion to run as a Liberal candidate for Outremont in a by-election that was held on September 17, 2007.The seat was vacated by former Transportation Minister Jean Lapierre who pursued his career as a political analyst at TVA.Coulon faced former provincial Liberal Environment Minister Thomas Mulcair from the NDP.