It is Day 19 of the Quebec election campaign. With voters set to head to the polls on Oct. 5, the leaders are preparing for a French-language debate on TVA Nouvelles at 8 p.m. Tuesday, as well as another on Noovo Info and the Crave streaming platform on Wednesday. Key details: Follow along for the latest updates: PQ holds steady as CAQ drops to third place The Parti Québécois (PQ) remains in first place with 29 per cent of intentions among decided voters, according to a new poll by Leger for Le Journal/TVA. The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) has shifted into second place at 23 per cent, and the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has dropped two points to 21 per cent - down from 24 per cent in August and 23 per cent on Sept. 7. “This movement is accompanied by declines on several measures related to Christine Fréchette: 19 per cent of Quebecers say she would make the best premier, down four points, while 16 per cent say she has run the best campaign over the past seven days, down five points,” Leger noted. Meanwhile, the Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ) has risen to 17 per cent, up two points from Sept. 7, its highest result to date. Additionally, 61 per cent of Quebecers surveyed said they want a change in government and a new party to lead Quebec, while 24 per cent of Quebecers identified the PQ’s Paul St-Pierre Plamondon as the leader who best embodies change, followed by Conservative Éric Duhaime (15 per cent). Of those polled, 56 per cent said they’ve made their choice on who to vote for, while 42 per cent remained open to the various parties and two per cent did not know or preferred not to answer. The online survey was conducted from Sept. 10 to 13, 2026, among 1,013 Quebecers aged 18 or older who are eligible to vote. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would have a maximum margin of error of ±3.08 per cent, 19 times out of 20. - Rachel Lau, CTV News Montreal journalist. ‘Landmark’ public transit project for east Montreal: QS Québec Solidaire says it wants to see a “landmark” public transit project for the east end of Montreal - though spokesperson Ruba Ghazal pointed out that the initial REM de l’Est project still lacks social acceptance. Ghazal did not specify which type of transit she favours, but did mention a rapid bus transit (BRT) system or a streetcar. The left-wing party is promising to invest $1 billion in preparatory work during its first term, as well as an additional $5 billion through the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI). - The Canadian Press. Liberals accuse Fréchette of breaking the law The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) is accusing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette of breaking the law, as it strongly condemned massive cost overruns for the Finance and Procurement Information System (SIFA). Fréchette “violated the law, failed to comply with the law,” which “requires her to listen to and follow the advice of the CIO, the Chief Information Officer,” said Liberal Monsef Derrraji. Monday, PLQ Leader Charles Milliard said he was “outraged,” “fed up,” and “disgusted” by cost overruns of the government’s IT projects after a report published by Radio-Canada indicated that Fréchette’s government disregarded analyses conducted by the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs and other accounting firms, which estimated that a major Santé Québec IT project could cost $1 billion — well beyond the $96 million initially projected. “We’ve had more than our fair share of financial scandals at the Coalition Avenir Québec, and the current election isn’t going to stop us from talking about them,” said Milliard, pointing out that the amount of “$1.1 billion” is “exactly the same figure as the SAAQclic project, another financial scandal involving the Coalition Avenir Québec.” - The Canadian Press. Liberals propose improved QPIP, expanded daycare network The Quebec Liberal Party says it wants to improve the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), including extending shareable parental leave by two weeks. The party suggests that if parents do not need the two additional weeks, the benefits “may be paid directly to them to help cover the many expenses that come with the arrival of a newborn.” The PLQ is also promising to fund the creation of 5,000 daycare spots within five years and convert 10,000 spots in unsubsidized private daycares into subsidized spots. - The Canadian Press. Fewer asylum seekers, says PCQ The Quebec Conservative Party says it wants to significantly reduce the range of services offered to asylum seekers. Leader Éric Duhaime presented his immigration plan Monday morning, calling for fewer asylum seekers in the province. He argues the range of services offers makes Quebec more attractive to asylum seekers. The Conservatives say they want to cut social assistance by 25 per cent and prioritize Quebecers for childcare and housing. The party also proposed giving preferential treatment to immigrants from “democratic” countries. - The Canadian Press. Back-to-back debates A French-language leaders’ debate is scheduled on TVA Nouvelles at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by another on Noovo Info and the Crave streaming platform on Wednesday. This follows a leaders’ exchange on Radio-Canada that took place on Sept. 9; the network is set to host the final debate on Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. There will be no English-language debate among the leaders of Quebec’s major political parties ahead of the election, with the CAQ and PQ declining to participate and the PLQ stating it only would if all five parties were taking part. Québec Solidaire and the Conservatives had accepted the offer. A consortium of English-language media had invited the leaders to a 90-minute debate to take place on Sept. 24. - Rachel Lau, CTV News Montreal journalist. Indigenous turnout low in Quebec As the Quebec provincial elections draw near, many Indigenous communities have chosen not to don their election colours. In the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, south of Montreal, turnout has averaged under one per cent since 2007. Mohawk Council of Kahnawake Grand Chief Cody Diabo explains community members don’t engage with the provincial and federal governments. Data published by Elections Quebec in May shows that in the last two decades, many other Indigenous communities in Quebec have largely turned away from participating in Quebec elections. - The Canadian Press. Day 19 Here is where the party leaders are planning to start their day, in order of first appearance: Éric Duhaime (Quebec Conservative Party) Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime is set to hold a press conference at 8:05 a.m. in Montreal to unveil his immigration platform. Charles Milliard (Quebec Liberal Party) Liberal Leader Charles Milliard is expected to make an announcement about families at 9 a.m. at Ahuntsic Park in Montreal. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Parti Québécois) PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is slated to be in Longueuil to pose for photos with the media at the Holiday Inn Montréal-Longueuil at 10 a.m. ahead of the leaders’ debates. Ruba Ghazal (Québec Solidaire) QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal is set to be at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital to present her plan to revitalize Montreal East at 10:30 a.m. She will then visit the party’s national campaign headquarters at 11:45 a.m. Christine Fréchette (Coalition Avenir Québec) CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette has no events scheduled. The leaders
