Quebec Party Leaders Clash in Final Election Debate

Leaders of Quebec's five major political parties held their third and final election debate on September 23, 2026, at the Nouvelle Maison de Radio-Canada in Montreal. The event served as the final confrontation before voters head to the polls on October 5, with analysts suggesting a fragmented electorate may result in a minority government.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon of the Parti Québécois pledged to hold a sovereignty referendum during a first term, allocating $130 million for the vote after January 2029. He stated he would wait until Donald Trump leaves the White House to trigger the referendum, arguing that the current American administration creates an unacceptable climate for reflecting on the province's future. In contrast, leaders from the Coalition Avenir Québec, the Quebec Liberal Party, and the Conservative Party of Quebec spoke out against a referendum, with Éric Duhaime claiming Quebecers are not interested in such a vote.

The candidates also clashed over immigration and social services. Proposals for permanent immigration caps ranged from 35,000 by the Parti Québécois to 70,000 by Québec solidaire. On childcare, Charles Milliard pledged 15,000 subsidized spots, while Ruba Ghazal promised 30,000. The governing Coalition Avenir Québec faced sharp criticism from opponents over broken promises regarding emergency room wait times and doctor availability. Other discussions included the responsible development of AI and the crisis facing unhoused people in Montreal.