A pivotal night for Quebec and Canada. CTVNews.ca has special live coverage as voters shape the next chapter.
- CLICK HERE for live election results
CTV News projects the Parti Québécois will form the next government in Quebec.
In a major upset for the ruling Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) party, the Parti Québécois (PQ) is shaking up the political landscape in Quebec.
The party hasn’t been in power since 2014 and its leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, has vowed to hold a third referendum on Quebec sovereignty in his first term.
With 127 seats up for grabs, a party would need 64 seats to form a majority.
Follow along for the latest updates:
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CTV News projects a PQ government
The CTV News decision desk projects that the Parti Québécois (PQ) will form the next government in Quebec.
It is not yet clear whether it will be a minority or majority government.
It is not yet clear whether it will be a minority or majority government.
Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon speaks during a leaders debate in Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. . (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)
Key details:
- PQ will form next government, CTV News projects
- PQ leader re-elected, CTV News projects
- Quebec Conservative leader wins seat
- CAQ leading in just two seats
Poilievre congratulates PSPP
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre congratulated Paul St-Pierre Plamondon for his win, saying he will work with "all members" of Quebec's National Assembly.
Poilievre added in a post on X that he's "proud" of Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime, who he said "achieved historic gains" in the province.
As of this writing, the PC is leading or has been elected in 18 seats.
Poilievre added in a post on X that he's "proud" of Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime, who he said "achieved historic gains" in the province.
As of this writing, the PC is leading or has been elected in 18 seats.
All leaders win their seats, except Fréchette
With the polls closed for one hour now, all leaders of the major political parties have won their seats, except one.
Liberal leader Charles Milliard, Parti Québécois leader Paul St. Pierre Plamondon, Quebec Conservative leader Éric Duhaime, and Québéc solidaire leader Ruba Ghazal have all been elected.
CAQ leader Christine Fréchette has not yet been re-elected. It's a tight race currently in her riding of Trois-Rivières with the PQ candidate Jean Pellerin as both are leading with about 29 per cent of the vote (48/169 polls reporting).
Liberal leader Charles Milliard, Parti Québécois leader Paul St. Pierre Plamondon, Quebec Conservative leader Éric Duhaime, and Québéc solidaire leader Ruba Ghazal have all been elected.
CAQ leader Christine Fréchette has not yet been re-elected. It's a tight race currently in her riding of Trois-Rivières with the PQ candidate Jean Pellerin as both are leading with about 29 per cent of the vote (48/169 polls reporting).
Frechette in a fight
As her party fights for official status, CAQ Leader Christine Frechette is in a nailbiter in her own riding of Trois Rivieres.
Right now, just a few percentage points separate her from PQ candidate Jean Pellerin.
Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Christine Frechette. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Quebec Liberal leader wins seat
CTV News projects that Quebec Liberal Party leader Charles Milliard has won his seat in Orford, in Quebec's Eastern Townships.
This marks the first time Milliard will hold a seat in the National Assembly. Milliard came into the scene after former leader Pablo Rodriquez stepped down from the role amid the alleged vote-buying scandal.
This marks the first time Milliard will hold a seat in the National Assembly. Milliard came into the scene after former leader Pablo Rodriquez stepped down from the role amid the alleged vote-buying scandal.
Will CAQ lose party status?
The CAQ – the party that’s held power in Quebec for eight years – is leading or elected so far in just four seats (versus 59 for the PQ). A party needs to win at least 12 seats to win official status.
The PQ has managed to flip the table from their results in the 2022 election when they won only three seats.
CAQ Leader Christine Frechette. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Party standings so far
About a half hour after the polls closed, the PQ has won 21 seats so far and is leading in 32 seats. The Liberals follow with 11 elected MNAs.
In a major early upset, the CAQ has not won any seats.
Full election results are available at on CTV News Montreal's election hub.
In a major early upset, the CAQ has not won any seats.
Full election results are available at on CTV News Montreal's election hub.
Quebec Conservative leader wins his seat
Quebec Conservative leader Éric Duhaime has won his seat in Bellechasse. This marks the first time a member of Quebec's Conservatives has been elected to the legislature since 1935.
Duhaime has been leader of the party since 2021.
The party has so far won 5 seats.
With files from The Canadian Press
Duhaime has been leader of the party since 2021.
The party has so far won 5 seats.
With files from The Canadian Press
First Conservative MNA elected
Former CAQ MNA turned Conservative Party of Quebec candidate in La Peltrie, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, has become the first Conservative candidate elected in a general election in the province's history.
The CPQ expects to pick up enough seats for official party status, 12, after being shut out of prior elections.
Jonathan Poulin was elected in Beauce-Sud, as the second CPQ MNA for Éric Duhaime's party.
The CPQ expects to pick up enough seats for official party status, 12, after being shut out of prior elections.
Jonathan Poulin was elected in Beauce-Sud, as the second CPQ MNA for Éric Duhaime's party.
La Peltrie Conservative candidate Maïté Blanchette Vézina greets Quebec Conservative Leader Eric Duhaime as he tours the region on the eve of a general election, in Quebec City on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)
WATCH LIVE: CTV News Montreal special broadcast at 8 p.m.
After the polls close at 8 p.m., CTV will air a live election special on TV throughout the evening hosted by CTV News Montreal anchors Mutsumi Takahashi and Maya Johnson.
The special coverage, also on Crave, on CJAD 800 Radio, and our social media platforms, will have live election results as they come in with the same team of experts, and projections from CTV’s election desk, made up of experts who analyze the votes that are being counted to help project who the winner will be.
Readers can also follow CTVNewsMontreal.ca for the latest updates throughout the evening.
Former PQ leader says separation push could come later
Former PQ leader Jean-François Lisée says if the party forms government, it would not necessarily mean Quebec is headed for independence.
“You have a number of people who are very determined and competent and honest who get into politics for one reason, making Quebec a country,” he told CTV Power Play host Vassy Kapelos. “And Quebecers say, OK, we'll elect you, but we'll not let you make Quebec a country. We want you to run the province.”
Lisée added that the party’s decision to wait for U.S. President Donald Trump’s term to end before holding a referendum helped stop the issue of independence from dominating the election campaign.
“The master stroke of Mr. Plamondon was to announce just before the start of the campaign that he would not hold a referendum until Donald Trump left, and the level of anguish, of course, that Trump pours into the electorate in Canada, as in Quebec, as elsewhere, is very high,” he said.
Lisée also said that PQ would need a majority in the National Assembly to call a referendum.
“Depending on the numbers we'll have tonight, we'll see if the second independence party, which is Québec solidaire, has enough votes to enable him to carry a majority.”
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Protesters gather outside PQ watch party
A boisterous group of protesters gathered outside the PQ's main watch party in Montreal as voting entered its final hour.
They chanted slogans critical of police, racism, transphobia and what the PQ's plans to separate would mean for First Nations.
Security was tight with several police officers keeping watch over the crowd.
WATCH LIVE: CTV News Montreal special broadcast at 7 p.m.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Oct. 5, CTV will air a special election broadcast on Crave, on CTVNewsMontreal.ca, on CJAD 800 Radio, and on our YouTube and X accounts. It will also stream on the CTV News TikTok account.
CTV News Montreal anchor Mutsumi Takahashi will host the one-hour, live pre-show special, featuring insight and analysis from Martine St-Victor, a communications strategist and general manager of Edelman, Sébastien Dallaire, a chief insights officer at Leger Marketing, and David Heurtel, political analyst and former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister.
CTV News Montreal reporters will also provide updates from the five main party headquarters, and CTV News anchor Maya Johnson will have expert analysis from political analyst Raphael Melançon and Rupen Seoni, chief client officer at Environics Analytics.
CTV News Montreal anchor Mutsumi Takahashi will host the one-hour, live pre-show special, featuring insight and analysis from Martine St-Victor, a communications strategist and general manager of Edelman, Sébastien Dallaire, a chief insights officer at Leger Marketing, and David Heurtel, political analyst and former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister.
CTV News Montreal reporters will also provide updates from the five main party headquarters, and CTV News anchor Maya Johnson will have expert analysis from political analyst Raphael Melançon and Rupen Seoni, chief client officer at Environics Analytics.
Former PQ leader predicts minority government
Former Parti Québécois leader Jean-François Lisée says Quebecers will “most probably” elect a minority PQ government.
Speaking with CTV Power Play host Vassy Kapelos, he described governing without a majority as “a delicate task,” but said the PQ could build support for individual measures by working with other parties.
Lisée also said people in Quebec want change but attempts to make the campaign about U.S. President Donald Trump did not resonate as it did in the federal election.
“It has been about change and that was the bad news for the outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette,” he said. “She wanted to make this election about Donald Trump, as (Prime Minister Mark) Carney did with great success last year, and it kind of worked for the first week, but the appetite for change has been growing.
“The Trump card didn't work as well for her as it did for Mr. Carney,” Lisée added.
Speaking with CTV Power Play host Vassy Kapelos, he described governing without a majority as “a delicate task,” but said the PQ could build support for individual measures by working with other parties.
Lisée also said people in Quebec want change but attempts to make the campaign about U.S. President Donald Trump did not resonate as it did in the federal election.
“It has been about change and that was the bad news for the outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette,” he said. “She wanted to make this election about Donald Trump, as (Prime Minister Mark) Carney did with great success last year, and it kind of worked for the first week, but the appetite for change has been growing.
“The Trump card didn't work as well for her as it did for Mr. Carney,” Lisée added.
Quebec government denied appeal
Quebec’s Court of Appeal on Monday denied the government’s request to appeal a judgment ordering Élections Québec to send bilingual voter reminder cards in English and French ahead of the general election.
Justice Sylvain Lussier suspended the Charter of the French Language on Sept. 16 for 10 days, then again, several days later, until the Quebec election on Oct. 5, to allow the independent electoral agency to send bilingual voter reminder cards.
The Quebec government sought to appeal these two judgments, but Justice Patrick Healy denied its request.
In the judgment obtained by CTV News, Healy wrote that the court generally will not interfere with a judge’s temporary decision unless there are exceptional circumstances.
In the judgment obtained by CTV News, Healy wrote that the court generally will not interfere with a judge’s temporary decision unless there are exceptional circumstances.
What to watch for as the votes come in
Political analyst Raphael Melancon speaks about what to watch for as the votes come in on election night, including whether the Parti Québécois will achieve its goal of a majority government.
Watch the interview.
Watch the interview.
45% of Quebecers have voted so far
Élections Québec's preliminary voter turnout results show that 45.06 per cent of Quebecers had voted as of 5:11 p.m.
The agency reported that 25.6 per cent of Quebecers voted in advance polls, compared with 24.8 per cent in the 2022 general election.
The agency reported that 25.6 per cent of Quebecers voted in advance polls, compared with 24.8 per cent in the 2022 general election.
Voter turnout was 66.15 per cent in the 2022 provincial election.
Final voter turnout is determined once the votes have been counted or after a judicial recount.
Final voter turnout is determined once the votes have been counted or after a judicial recount.
Leaders vote
The leaders of all the major parties voted in their ridings.
CAQ leader Christine Fréchette is running in Trois-Rivières.
PQ leader Pierre St-Pierre Plamondon is running in Camille-Laurin in Montreal.
Liberal leader Charles Milliard is running in the Eastern Townships riding of Orford.
Quebec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal is running in Mercier in Montreal.
Conservative leader Éric Duhaime is running in Bellechasse, south of Quebec City.
CAQ leader Christine Fréchette is running in Trois-Rivières.
PQ leader Pierre St-Pierre Plamondon is running in Camille-Laurin in Montreal.
Liberal leader Charles Milliard is running in the Eastern Townships riding of Orford.
Quebec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal is running in Mercier in Montreal.
Conservative leader Éric Duhaime is running in Bellechasse, south of Quebec City.
Voters head to the polls across the country
It's decision day in Quebec and CTV News Montreal reporter Denise Roberts was at polling stations to speak with voters.
Watch the video below.
Watch the video below.
Election could be ‘very devastating’ for Fréchette: analyst
Political analyst Daniel Tran says he expects a “very, very close” race and believes election night could mark a “really good” moment in Quebec political history.
“It was a 39-day campaign, with five parties above the 10 per cent mark and for the first time in history, 127 ridings instead of 125,” he told CTV News Channel. “So, a lot of new rules, a lot of possibilities start to emerge.”
Tran said one likely possibility is the Parti Québécois (PQ) unseating the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).
“The latest polls have shown a tendency for the possible extinction of the current governing party, the CAQ, led by incumbent Premier Christine Fréchette, which would be very devastating for her and devastating for the party,” he said.
Tran said Quebecers may be experiencing "voter fatigue" after eight years of a CAQ government, and added that pressure on Fréchette to rebrand the party in the face of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump added obstacles to her campaign.
Duhaime votes
Éric Duhaime, leader of the Quebec Conservative Party, casts his ballot in his riding of Bellechasse in the city of Sainte-Claire, Que., on election day.
Quebec Conservative Party Leader Eric Duhaime casts his ballot in his riding of Bellechasse in the city of Sainte-Claire, Quebec on Monday Oct. 5, 2026. . Karoline Boucher/The Canadian Press
Nearly 30% of Quebecers have voted so far
Élections Québec's preliminary voter turnout results show that 29.79 per cent of Quebecers had voted as of 12:22 p.m.
The agency reported that 25.6 per cent of Quebecers voted in advance polls.
Final voter turnout is determined once the votes have been counted or after a judicial recount. It becomes official after the declaration of the election, which takes place four days after the votes are counted, if no request for a judicial recount is made during that period.
The agency reported that 25.6 per cent of Quebecers voted in advance polls.
Final voter turnout is determined once the votes have been counted or after a judicial recount. It becomes official after the declaration of the election, which takes place four days after the votes are counted, if no request for a judicial recount is made during that period.
Voters express accessibility concerns
Claude Benchimol, 84, who uses a wheelchair, went to vote at Carrefour Multisport in Laval but was frustrated to learn his polling station wasn't accessible.
Benchimol told CTV News that there were several steps at the front entrance, making it impossible to enter. He took an elevator to the ground floor, but found additional steps leading to the voting room. Élections Québec staff had to direct him to another entrance and lift his wheelchair over two beams to the voting room.
“It was not a pleasant experience,” Benchimol said.
Élections Québec said 94 per cent of polling stations are accessible to people with impaired mobility.
It also stated that sites are equipped with tools to help people who may have limitations, including a lighted magnifying glass, a pencil with a grip for easier handling, a clipboard, a braille voting template, large-print posters of candidates and a tool with pictograms to facilitate communication between election officers and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
It also stated that sites are equipped with tools to help people who may have limitations, including a lighted magnifying glass, a pencil with a grip for easier handling, a clipboard, a braille voting template, large-print posters of candidates and a tool with pictograms to facilitate communication between election officers and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
“This means six per cent of stations may have obstacles for some people. So, we invite electors to check on our website if their polling place is accessible, and if it's not, there will be indications regarding the characteristics of the site to help people see for their own situation if there's an obstacle or not,” Élections Québec spokesperson Julie St-Arnaud-Drolet said in an interview with CTV News.
“If your polling place is not accessible to you, you can contact the returning officer of your electoral division, and they may allow you to vote in another place that is accessible.”
Will a sovereignty referendum sway voters?
Daniel Béland, director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, says support for political parties remains fragmented across Quebec, with the province's sovereignty debate top of mind for many voters.
According to Béland, support for Quebec sovereignty sits at about 30 per cent, a historically low level, while roughly 65 to 70 per cent of Quebecers oppose a third referendum.
That split, he says, could prompt some voters to cast their ballots strategically to prevent a Parti Québécois (PQ) majority government.
“Strategic voting is not as common as people think. But it's certainly at play today, especially because people are expecting the PQ to win,” he told CTV News Channel on Monday.
“There are a lot of people who are really concerned about the possibility of a PQ majority government because, in that case, it would be much easier for them to pull the trigger on a third referendum, although they have said that would not happen before (U.S. President Donald) Trump leaves the White House.
Quebecers line up before stations open
Many Quebecers were lining up before polling stations opened at 9:30 a.m., according to Élections Québec.
“A lot of electors were there before opening hours, so people are ready to exercise their right to vote and we’re really happy about that,” Élections Québec spokesperson Julie St-Arnaud-Drolet said in an interview with CTV News.
Nearly 26 per cent of Quebecers voted in advance polling, in line with the last provincial election in 2022, the independent electoral agency said.
It added that voting today should generally be quick, as there are four times more polling stations than during advance polling.
It added that voting today should generally be quick, as there are four times more polling stations than during advance polling.
“Peak hours are usually at the opening of polling stations, at noon, and after work hours, so if a person can be there mid-afternoon or after dinner, those periods should be less busy,” St-Arnaud-Drolet said.
Élections Québec said there are no reports so far of violations of polling station rules.
According to the agency, electors must follow several rules when exercising their right to vote to ensure that poll stations remain neutral.
Some of these rules include not expressing support or opposition for any party or candidate.
According to the agency, electors must follow several rules when exercising their right to vote to ensure that poll stations remain neutral.
Some of these rules include not expressing support or opposition for any party or candidate.
“Electors must know that when they are in the polling places, they cannot promote a party or a candidate. Polling stations must be neutral and impartial. So, it's not a place to let people know for who you want to vote,” she said.
Polling stations close at 8 p.m.
Polling stations close at 8 p.m.
A woman votes at a polling station in Quebec City, Monday, October 3, 2022. . Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press
Milliard votes
Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) Leader Charles Milliard casts his vote on election day in North Hatley, in the Eastern Townships.
Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard casts his vote on election day in North Hatley, Que., on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
'An interesting race': Nanos
Nik Nanos, founder and chief data scientist at Nanos Research, says it has been “an interesting race” in Quebec, with the province being one of the few provinces with a "boatload of parties."
Of the five parties, the CTV News pollster says polling from recent days has indicated the Parti Québécois is either first or second “basically in every region” of the province.
“That's why they have the upper hand, and that's why at least they're projected to win government and the greatest number of seats. The big question is how big will that win potentially be?”
Since the start of the campaign, Nanos says the biggest shift in the polls has been support moving from the incumbent Coalition Avenir Québec to the provincial Conservatives, while support for the Parti Québécois and the Liberals has remained relatively steady.
Fréchette casts ballot
Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette visits her polling station in Trois-Rivières on Monday morning to cast her ballot.
CAQ Leader Christine Frechette casts her ballot at the polling office in Trois-Rivieres, Que. on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
PSPP 'excited yet calm' while voting
At 10 a.m., Parti Québécois (PQ) Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon cast his ballot in his riding of Camille-Laurin in eastern Montreal.
He described himself as “excited yet calm.”
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon casts his ballot on election day in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Sovereignty questions loom over Quebec businesses
Quebec’s business community is taking notice as polls show the Parti Québécois seizing a firm lead with the provincial election in full swing.
PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged to hold a referendum within his first mandate, though not before U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office.
Sébastien Lachaine, Quebec director at lobbying firm Sussex Strategy, says the uncertainty heralded by a referendum on the horizon amounts to a “cloud” over Quebec companies.
How to watch the election live on CTV News
Quebecers are heading to the polls on Oct. 5 in what could be a consequential provincial election. CTV News will be the place to watch all the action unfold live.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Oct. 5, CTV will air a special election broadcast on Crave, on CTVNewsMontreal.ca, on CJAD 800 Radio, and on our YouTube, TikTok, and X accounts.
Joe Lofaro breaks down all the details for you here.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Oct. 5, CTV will air a special election broadcast on Crave, on CTVNewsMontreal.ca, on CJAD 800 Radio, and on our YouTube, TikTok, and X accounts.
Joe Lofaro breaks down all the details for you here.
Voting today? What you need to know
It’s election day in Quebec, after a 39-day-long campaign that saw party leaders battle over sovereignty, the cost of living and more. If you’re planning to vote today, digital reporter Rachel Lau has broken down everything you need to know, including when and where:
Tom Mulcair: A turning point for Canada
Monday’s election in Quebec, more than any other in a generation, could have a determining effect on the future of our lives together and on Canada itself, political commentator Tom Mulcair, former leader of the federal New Democratic Party, writes for CTVNews.ca.
An excerpt from his exclusive column:
I get it, just talking about a complex Quebec general election is enough to send people scrambling for the mute button.
But there really is something unique happening in the run-up to Monday’s vote in La Belle province that other Canadians should keep an eye on. I guess that many of us just shrug our shoulders and say that the threat of separation has been background noise in Canada since the Parti Québécois was first elected exactly 50 years ago in 1976. Who cares, eh?
An excerpt from his exclusive column:
I get it, just talking about a complex Quebec general election is enough to send people scrambling for the mute button.
But there really is something unique happening in the run-up to Monday’s vote in La Belle province that other Canadians should keep an eye on. I guess that many of us just shrug our shoulders and say that the threat of separation has been background noise in Canada since the Parti Québécois was first elected exactly 50 years ago in 1976. Who cares, eh?
The Parti Québécois is set to win on Monday and its headstrong leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (or PSPP as he is known), is promising a destructive push for a referendum and a unilateral declaration of independence, even if he only gets a minority.
That would fly in the face of the Canadian constitution and the Supreme Court ruling on secession, but that’s not the type of subtlety that will stop PSPP or the hard-bitten, right-wing nationalists who are the core of his team.
That would fly in the face of the Canadian constitution and the Supreme Court ruling on secession, but that’s not the type of subtlety that will stop PSPP or the hard-bitten, right-wing nationalists who are the core of his team.
Party platforms 'a drop in the bucket' to solve housing crisis
From tax credits for first time homebuyers, to rent caps, to reducing red tape for construction, each of the five parties took different approaches.
McGill University's director of affordable housing program Avid Friedman says that while each party made good suggestions, they don't solve the immediate problem.
"All of them, even the suggestion by the Liberals, is can be called bluntly a drop in the bucket," said Friedman. "What we are living now today is a major crisis that is likely to affect young people's life and economic vitality in the coming years, and if any of these platforms will be executed, will be put to work, it will take about four to five years until you will see the first unit."
Friedman said the province needs to return to a policy of constructing social housing.
Watch the video below.
"All of them, even the suggestion by the Liberals, is can be called bluntly a drop in the bucket," said Friedman. "What we are living now today is a major crisis that is likely to affect young people's life and economic vitality in the coming years, and if any of these platforms will be executed, will be put to work, it will take about four to five years until you will see the first unit."
Friedman said the province needs to return to a policy of constructing social housing.
Watch the video below.
Duhaime says he is 'calm' and confident' on election eve
Conservative leader Éric Duhaime feels “calm” and “confident” on the eve of the election, reminding Quebecers one last time of the importance of voting.
Speaking Sunday outside the Videotron Centre in Quebec City before a Remparts game, Duhaime said that the Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ) has “the wind at its back.” He said he hoped this trend would continue at the polls on Monday.
“I am very, very calm, and I am confident. The only thing is, we now need to make sure people go out and vote,” Duhaime said.
The Conservative leader reiterated his goal for the PCQ to become a recognized parliamentary group, either by electing 12 members of the National Assembly or by securing 20 percent of the vote in the election.
Duhaime sent a message to voters who believe the PCQ cannot win in their riding, arguing that every vote for his party counts.
“I say to those people: your vote counts, because it may be the very vote that gives us the status of a recognized parliamentary group in the National Assembly,” said Duhaime. “So make sure, first, to go vote, and second, if you intend to vote Conservative, vote Conservative. Don’t listen to others saying, ‘We have to block this one, we have to block that one.’ The important thing is that we reach at least 20 per cent tomorrow night.”
The leader and members of a parliamentary group enjoy certain benefits. In particular, parliamentary group leaders are allotted more speaking time to debate motions, the opening address, and the budget speech. The Speaker of the National Assembly must also take the status of parliamentary groups into account when allocating questions during question periods and oral responses.
Duhaime also responded on Sunday to remarks made by Quebec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal, who had argued the previous day that the PCQ’s ideas are “dangerous.”
“Our positions are very moderate, very normal. I have never talked about nationalizing grocery stores. When it comes to ideas that are a bit more radical, I don’t think Quebec solidaire is in a position to lecture anyone,” Duhaime argued.
QS Issues a final appeal to ‘progressive separatists’
On the eve of the election, Quebec solidaire (QS) issued a final appeal on Sunday to "progressive separatists," while asserting that the election of Liberal members of the National Assembly in Montreal's Southwest would represent a "step backward."
QS co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal held a news briefing to present her campaign assessment on Sunday afternoon in the Verdun riding in Montreal.
While Parti Québécois (PQ) leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was also spending the final day of the election campaign in the city, Ghazal urged “progressive separatists—who are proud of the Quebec model and no longer identify with the austerity measures proposed by the PQ”—to vote for her party.
She also took one last swipe at the Quebec Liberal Party, as a heated race looms—particularly in the ridings of Verdun and Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne, in Montreal’s Southwest—between Solidaire and Liberal candidates.
“Having Liberal Party members of the National Assembly in Montreal is a step backward,” Ghazal said.
To present the results of her campaign, the QS co-spokesperson was joined by Alejandra Zaga Mendez, candidate in Verdun; Andrés Fontecilla, candidate in Laurier-Dorion; Alexandre Leduc, candidate in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve; and Saïd Kassabie, candidate in Viau.
According to the poll aggregator Qc125, Alejandra Zaga Mendez was polling at 30 per cent of voting intentions on Sunday, trailing Liberal candidate Antoine Dionne Charest—son of former Premier Jean Charest—who was polling at 39 per cent.
Fréchette admits that the voting system may put the CAQ at a disadvantage
During her campaign wrap-up, CAQ leader Christine Fréchette admitted that Quebec’s current electoral system could put her party at a disadvantage on the evening of Oct. 5.
According to the Qc125 poll aggregator, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) could be wiped off the map despite garnering around 16 per cent of the vote.
“We have an electoral system that, of course, isn’t the most favourable when you’re below a certain threshold. We’ve seen the kind of impact this can have in practically every election, so it poses an additional challenge, but we’re staying active,” she said Sunday during a news briefing in Shawinigan.
Despite this, Fréchette stated a few days ago that she did not want to reform the electoral system to make it proportional, arguing that she did not sense any appetite for it among Quebecers.
Her predecessor, François Legault, had promised to reform the electoral system. However, he reneged on that commitment once in power.
In the 2022 election, Éric Duhaime’s Conservative Party received 13 per cent of the vote but won no seats.
Quebecers will head to the polls on Monday to elect their next government. The Parti Québécois is leading in the polls.
Liberal leader raising expectations in Beauce
The Liberals are raising expectations and promising to defy the odds in Beauce-North, a region known for being conservative.
Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leader Charles Milliard kicked off his final day of campaigning on Sunday in Saint-Victor, alongside his candidate Nancy Labbé.
Nearly 170 people turned out for a campaign brunch at the Manoir Route 66.
Labbé is the executive director of the La Nouvelle-Beauce RCM; she and Milliard met when she was working at the region’s chamber of commerce.
“If you walk around Beauce-Nord, you’ll have a hard time finding anyone who doesn’t know Nancy Labbé,” Milliard said during a news conference. "Nancy is someone who has all the qualities needed to be an excellent member of the National Assembly."
Milliard said he is convinced that the Liberal vote is currently "underestimated" in several regions, including Montérégie, Mauricie, Capitale-Nationale, and Beauce.
In his view, projection sites place too much weight on the results of the 2022 election in their calculations.
“We’re a world away from where we were in 2022. (...) Tomorrow, some people are going to have little smirks on their faces, and I’ll be one of them,” he predicted.
The Liberal leader spoke in Beauce about the importance of helping small businesses and having an “economically-minded” premier.
He called on disappointed Conservatives and CAQ supporters to vote for his party, the only one—along with the Parti Québécois (PQ)—with a real chance of forming the next government.
In his view, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is anything but “economically minded.”
“Remember,” he said, “Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon didn’t even deign to present his fiscal plan; he sent one of his candidates to do it for him. Then, whenever economic issues are raised, he always shifts the focus to identity and immigration.
“Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon has many qualities, but he has no experience in economics, health care, or education.”
Milliard also addressed the issue of Quebec sovereignty before his supporters in Beauce-Nord.
"Canada is one of the greatest countries in the world, and we’re going to protect it. We’re going to prevent Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon from separating Quebec from Canada," he assured.
He predicted four years of “squabbling” if the PQ were elected on Monday, unless the new government were a minority government, in which case Quebec could quickly face another election, he said.
PSPP calls on supporters to give it their all
With less than 24 hours to go before the election, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon called on his supporters Sunday to give it their all to encourage voters to cast their ballots for the Parti Québécois.
The latest polls suggest that the PQ will form the next government, but in this five-party race, it is currently impossible to predict whether it will hold a majority or a minority in the National Assembly.
During a speech at the campaign headquarters of his candidate, Maude Brossard-Sabourin, in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, the PQ leader argued that, thanks to the strength of its supporters, the PQ is the only party that can make a real difference at the last minute.
St-Pierre Plamondon is set to spend most of the final day of the campaign in Montreal, where the PQ currently holds only one riding—his own, Camille-Laurin.
After Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, he was scheduled to visit Rosemont and Maurice-Richard. These are three ridings that elected Quebec Solidaire (QS) members in 2022.
He will then head to Laval, where polls suggest his party has little chance of making inroads, but this allows the leader to claim that he has visited every region of Quebec during this campaign, unlike his opponents.
The day before, St-Pierre Plamondon had campaigned in Quebec City and the Mauricie region, two other areas where the results could be close.
The latest polls suggest that the PQ will form the next government, but in this five-party race, it is currently impossible to predict whether it will hold a majority or a minority in the National Assembly.
During a speech at the campaign headquarters of his candidate, Maude Brossard-Sabourin, in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, the PQ leader argued that, thanks to the strength of its supporters, the PQ is the only party that can make a real difference at the last minute.
St-Pierre Plamondon is set to spend most of the final day of the campaign in Montreal, where the PQ currently holds only one riding—his own, Camille-Laurin.
After Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, he was scheduled to visit Rosemont and Maurice-Richard. These are three ridings that elected Quebec Solidaire (QS) members in 2022.
He will then head to Laval, where polls suggest his party has little chance of making inroads, but this allows the leader to claim that he has visited every region of Quebec during this campaign, unlike his opponents.
The day before, St-Pierre Plamondon had campaigned in Quebec City and the Mauricie region, two other areas where the results could be close.
English limited at polling stations
Élections Québec will not change its rules about limiting English at polling stations despite having concerns for at least a year that it would restrict participation.
First reported in the Montreal Gazette, a memo from the organization to the provincial government flagged a number of possible issues, including complaints by voters, a loss of confidence in democratic instituttions and legal challenges.
Élections Québec said all of these factors could compromise the organization's mission.
"Élections Québec’s mission includes, in particular: ensuring that all voters can exercise their right to vote and their right to run for office, which are guaranteed by the charters of rights and freedoms; ensuring compliance with the rules and provisions governing the authorization and financing of authorized political entities," a document obtained by CTV News said. "If Élections Québec uses only French in the context of provincial, municipal, or school board elections, it may compromise the fulfillment of its mission... Since the French Language Charter mandates the exemplary use of French and restricts the use of any other language in our communications to specific exceptions, there is a risk that access to information in English may be more limited or difficult for certain voters."
First reported in the Montreal Gazette, a memo from the organization to the provincial government flagged a number of possible issues, including complaints by voters, a loss of confidence in democratic instituttions and legal challenges.
Élections Québec said all of these factors could compromise the organization's mission.
"Élections Québec’s mission includes, in particular: ensuring that all voters can exercise their right to vote and their right to run for office, which are guaranteed by the charters of rights and freedoms; ensuring compliance with the rules and provisions governing the authorization and financing of authorized political entities," a document obtained by CTV News said. "If Élections Québec uses only French in the context of provincial, municipal, or school board elections, it may compromise the fulfillment of its mission... Since the French Language Charter mandates the exemplary use of French and restricts the use of any other language in our communications to specific exceptions, there is a risk that access to information in English may be more limited or difficult for certain voters."
Brush it off
Parti Quebecois Mercier candidate Phoudsady Vanny had some fun at her own expense and took the bite out of a vandal's sting, when she mimicked the moustache and goatee of a vandalized campaign sign and posted a video on Instagram.
Vanny is running against QS leader Ruba Ghazal in the riding, with the QS co-spokesperson expected to win comfortably, according to the poll analysis site Quebec125.com.
Vanny is running against QS leader Ruba Ghazal in the riding, with the QS co-spokesperson expected to win comfortably, according to the poll analysis site Quebec125.com.
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