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'Trump Is My Main Opponent': Quebec Premier Fréchette Presents Herself as 'Safe Bet' Amid Turmoil
Campaign leaders are centering the vote on U.S. tariffs and trade tensions, with the Coalition Avenir Québec seeking another mandate after eight years in power.
The Quebec provincial election campaign officially began on Thursday as leaders fanned out across the province, with the trade war between Canada and the United States looming large over the first day of campaigning.
Coalition Avenir Leader Christine Fréchette seeks another mandate after eight years in power amid U.S. tariffs threatening key Quebec industries. She took over party leadership in April after former Premier François Legault stepped down due to poor polling.
The Parti Québécois has led in public opinion polls since 2023 and won four straight byelections, challenging the incumbent's 79-seat majority. The party's leader attacked what he called the "Legault-Fréchette tandem" during the campaign's opening day.
St-Pierre Plamondon, the Parti Québécois leader, promised a referendum on Quebec sovereignty within four years if elected. He also mentioned his party's commitment to focus on Quebecers' immediate priorities during the campaign.
The Coalition Avenir held 79 seats at dissolution compared to 18 for the Quebec Liberal Party and 11 for Québec solidaire. Voters head to the polls on Oct. 5, with the legislature scheduled to reconvene on Nov. 17.
At the head of a ruling party for eight years, the outgoing Prime Minister has been calling for a "first Fréchette term of government", evacuating the CAQ's name from its campaign material and changing its tone with Ottawa compared to François Legault. Christine Fréchette tries to make commercial conflict with the United States the question of l ́urne, even identifying Donald Trump as his main opponent.