Quebec’s five main party leaders are off on the campaign trail as the next provincial election is set for Oct. 5.
Premier Christine Fréchette met with the lieutenant-governor Thursday morning to dissolve the National Assembly, officially triggering a 39-day election period.
The Coalition Avenir Québec is seeking another mandate after eight years in power. Fréchette took over party leadership in April after former premier François Legault stepped down amid poor polling numbers.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Fréchette emphasized the importance of providing “stability and predictability” amidst heightened tensions with the U.S. and President Donald Trump, as well as the need to protect Quebec culture and language.
“President Trump is my principal opponent,” she said. “He’s the one who’s completely disturbing our trade links with the United States, our economy, our businesses and our regions”
She reiterated her position for a strong Quebec within a united Canada, citing a deal her government recently signed with federal officials for Quebec’s shipbuilding industry to build six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard.
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She also touted the Churchill Falls energy agreement signed with Newfoundland and Labrador that could ensure the province has the megawatts it needs to meet the province’s growing electricity demand through 2075.
Fréchette emphasized her desire to change the image of the CAQ in the face of waning public support, pointing to her role as Quebec’s second female premier with the majority of her party’s candidates being women.
“Quebecers will see we are a very interesting blend between experience and new faces, new energy.”
While the PQ remains ahead across the province, new polling released Thursday from Leger for Le journal-TVA Nouvelles shows there are tight races in several key regions.
In the Quebec City region, the PQ and the Quebec Conservative Party are tied at 30 per cent, ahead of the CAQ at 21 per cent.
The PQ holds just a slight advantage over the CAQ in the suburbs surrounding Montreal with 31 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.
On the Island of Montreal, the Liberal Party is holding strong with 40 per cent, but falls to 14 per cent in the rest of Quebec.
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