The ongoing election campaign in Quebec is gaining momentum as party leaders unveil new pledges. From revamping the education system to enhancing home ownership accessibility and boosting Quebec’s economy, here are some key highlights from Day 7:
Christine Fréchette, the leader of Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), revealed a plan to enhance government efficiency by cutting red tape in the province. The proposed measures include fostering competition by comparing public and private services, enabling small and medium-sized businesses to carry out specific tasks, and supervising digital projects more effectively.
Meanwhile, Éric Duhaime, the leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), criticized the CAQ’s efficiency plan and emphasized the need to combat tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Duhaime advocated for eliminating interprovincial trade barriers within Canada to boost Quebec’s market openness. The PCQ aims to facilitate direct sales of alcohol and food products while maintaining health and safety standards, foreseeing a potential 2% economic growth by the end of their first term.
On a different front, Charles Milliard, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), targeted infrastructure issues in the province. Milliard proposed increasing the Quebec Infrastructure Plan to $195 billion over a decade, with a focus on upgrading existing infrastructure to improve public services. The PLQ criticized the CAQ for neglecting infrastructure maintenance, resulting in a significant deficit increase.
Moreover, Québec Solidaire (QS) co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal presented a plan to ease house purchases in Quebec, particularly for young individuals. QS suggested a down-payment loan program for first-time homebuyers, offering loans of up to $50,000. Additionally, QS proposed acquiring and renovating 2,000 homes to make them available at reduced prices.
Lastly, Parti Québécois (PQ) leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon put forward a vision for revamping the education system in Quebec. The PQ aims to overhaul the public school system by emphasizing merit and success, promoting vocational education, integrating Quebec culture into schools, enhancing physical activity, fostering civility, and increasing socio-demographic diversity in educational institutions. The party plans to initiate a comprehensive public consultation on the future of education in Quebec within its first 100 days if elected.