Sunday marks day four of Quebec’s election campaign and promises have largely focused around affordability, with the exception of the Parti Québécois (PQ) which spoke about protecting the French language.
The PQ wants to extend the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101, to CEGEPs and to the children of temporary immigrants staying in Quebec for over a year.
Here’s a look at some of what has been said today.
CAQ lays path toward a balanced budget
Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette says the party is staying the course on reaching a balanced budget by 2030 – despite a $6 billion gap.
The CAQ’s election promises will cost close to $10 billion over the next five years, she revealed Sunday.
Fréchette has announced only a few of those promises so far, including $1 billion for home care services and housing measures for seniors. She also announced $304 million in support to the regions.
The CAQ plans to continue to invest in maintaining public infrastructure and will have to face the new 50 per cent tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
No tax cuts are expected until a balanced budget is achieved.
The CAQ leader is putting pressure on the other political parties to release their fiscal frameworks early. Christine Fréchette’s team presented its proposal to balance the province’s budget and pay for its election promises just days into the election campaign. Fréchette wants other leaders to do the same.
QS unveils housing plan
Ruba Ghazal, co-spokesperson for Québec Solidaire (QS) was quick to call out the CAQ for not taking the housing crisis seriously, while unveiling QS’s housing plan on Sunday.
The party put forward seven measures which include creating a national registry of rental units, limiting evictions and renovictions, cracking down on illegal Airbnb units, and promoting the densification of neighbourhoods.
It also wants to adopt a national strategy to end homelessness.
When asked how QS would finance the plan, Ghazal said the party will reveal details in a fiscal framework “coming in the next few days,” though she was unable to specify exactly when.
Québec Solidaire announced its housing plan on day four of the election campaign, promising more social housing, while criticizing rival parties for their “inaction” on the housing crisis.
PLQ promises better housing protections for seniors
Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard promised to cap rent increases at private seniors’ residences, known as RPAs.
Part of his new policy would shift the burden to mount a case away from the resident and onto the RPA whenever the latter proposes a rent increase above the cap. That way, the housing tribunal could weigh in on the rent increase regardless of whether or not a senior contests it.
“I think it makes no sense that people who pay taxes for 40, 50, 60, 70 years have to go through this additional burden,” Milliard said, speaking to reporters in the Jean-Lesage district in Quebec City on Sunday morning.
Milliard added the new protection wouldn’t come at the expense of care. A private seniors’ residence would not be allowed to reduce essential services to residents to comply with the cap, he said.
According to the Quebec Liberals, the cost of rent in private home care has increased by 18 percent over the last 4 years.
Conservatives want to axe QST on used goods
The Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) announced its fourth tax-cutting measure since the start of the campaign.
The party says it intends to abolish the Quebec sales tax, also known as the QST, on used goods like thrifted clothing. Party leader Éric Duhaime says this measure will put on average $867 back in the pockets of Quebecers.
This announcement rounds out the party’s plan to eliminate $47 billion in government spending over five years. This accounts for just over five per cent of the party’s budget without making cuts to public services, Duhaime said.
The Quebec Conservatives say that combined, their tax-cutting measures will save an average Quebec household around $11,000 over five years.
Duhaime also made a stop at the lumberjack festival in Saint-Pamphile and at a lumberyard, where he promised to protect forestry jobs.
According to Duhaime, 30,000 forestry jobs are at risk in Quebec. His party unveiled a plan it says will cut production costs, protect workers, and empower the regions.
That includes abolishing the carbon tax, revising and regionalizing the forestry industry, easing regulations, and increasing the use of Quebec wood in public infrastructure.
The PCQ also promised to defend against U.S. tariffs and promote local producers to reduce the industry’s reliance on the U.S.
PQ to expand Bill 101 to CEGEPs
Despite drawing criticism from rival parties over his stance on immigration Saturday, Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon doubled down on Sunday saying the CAQ’s immigration policy has led Quebec to a “linguistic emergency.”
Some of the campaign promises announced Sunday include extending the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101, to CEGEPs and to the children of temporary immigrants staying in Quebec for over a year.
He also wants to raise French language requirements for obtaining or renewing a work permit, depending on the type of job, excluding the agricultural sector altogether.
The party leader also wants to investigate “the language of socialization” of students in Montreal and Laval schools.
Bolstering the use of French is a cornerstone of St-Pierre Plamondon’s sovereignist agenda.
“We will be a French-speaking country and not a country that speaks bilingually,” he said.
The Parti Québecois says it has a plan to reverse what it calls “the decline of French” in the province. It includes a promise to extend the French language law to CEGEPs and boost French grammar requirements for certain ministry exams.
