On the first day of campaigning for the Quebec election, key issues such as taxes, parental leave, and the U.S. trade war are at the forefront. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of the Parti Québécois, has pledged a 20% tax reduction for Quebec businesses if his party wins the upcoming election. He made this commitment at the location of the scrapped Northvolt electric battery plant to showcase what he views as the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s economic intervention shortcomings.
Charles Milliard, the Quebec Liberal Leader, has focused on addressing the ongoing trade war. He has promised to decrease Quebec’s reliance on the United States for exports by diversifying markets to reduce the share by at least 15%.
Meanwhile, Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette has proposed enhancing the Quebec parental insurance plan by adding two extra weeks of leave for fathers, along with increased flexibility and bereavement leave. Québec Solidaire plans to establish a network of 15 public grocery stores, expanding on their previous commitments. The Conservatives are advocating for a substantial tax cut, which they describe as historic.
The campaign is in full swing with party leaders making their pitches to the public as the election date of October 5 approaches.