Sunday marks the fourth day of campaigning in Quebec’s election, with a focus on affordability. The Parti Québécois (PQ) stands out by emphasizing the protection of the French language. They aim to extend the Charter of the French Language, known as Bill 101, to CEGEPs and the children of temporary immigrants residing in Quebec for over a year.
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) led by Christine Fréchette is committed to achieving a balanced budget by 2030, despite facing a $6 billion shortfall. Fréchette disclosed that the CAQ’s election pledges are projected to cost nearly $10 billion over the next five years. Some of the announced promises include allocating $1 billion to home care services and housing initiatives for seniors, along with $304 million in regional support. The CAQ plans to uphold investments in public infrastructure and address the challenges posed by the 50% tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, delaying any tax cuts until a balanced budget is attained.
Québec Solidaire (QS), represented by Ruba Ghazal, criticized the CAQ for its handling of the housing crisis while unveiling its own housing plan. QS proposed seven measures, such as establishing a national registry of rental units, preventing evictions, combating illegal Airbnb rentals, and advocating for neighborhood densification. Additionally, QS aims to implement a national strategy to combat homelessness, with details on financing to be disclosed soon.
Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard pledged to cap rent increases in private seniors’ residences, transferring the responsibility of contesting rent hikes to the residences themselves. Milliard emphasized the need to safeguard essential services for residents while addressing the rising rental costs, which have surged by 18% in private home care over the past four years.
The Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), led by Éric Duhaime, proposed eliminating the Quebec sales tax (QST) on used goods like second-hand clothing, estimating an average savings of $867 per household. The PCQ aims to reduce government spending by $47 billion over five years without affecting public services, ultimately saving an average Quebec household around $11,000 during the same period. Duhaime also focused on protecting forestry jobs, outlining strategies to cut production costs, support workers, and increase the use of Quebec wood in public projects.
Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon defended his party’s stance on immigration and emphasized the urgent need to address the “linguistic emergency” in Quebec. Among other promises, the PQ plans to extend Bill 101 to CEGEPs and the children of temporary immigrants, enhance French language requirements for work permits, and investigate language practices in Montreal and Laval schools. St-Pierre Plamondon reiterated the party’s commitment to preserving French as a fundamental aspect of Quebec’s identity.