The Parti Québécois (PQ) kicked off Day 16 of the Quebec election campaign by estimating that a sovereignty referendum would cost at least $130 million. Meanwhile, Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette insisted her “personal position is not important” when asked about independence. Key details: Follow along for the latest updates: PCQ wants to ‘deregulate’ construction industry The Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ) says it wants to increase the housing supply in Quebec by “deregulating” the construction industry, including reducing the number of regulated trades and “simplifying” the Quebec Building Code. As part of this “liberalization,” the PCQ says it wants full labour mobility and plans to rezone agricultural land to “reflect today’s reality and needs” and review all housing assistance programs “to consolidate them and make support for low-income tenants more effective.” - The Canadian Press. $130M for a sovereignty referendum The leader of the Parti Québecois (PQ) says it would cost at least $130 million to pay for the sovereignty referendum he plans to hold in 2029 or 2030 if his party forms a government. The figure is expected to be included in the financial framework he plans to make public in the coming week. The referendum budget includes $20 million for studies and consultations in the first years of a PQ government mandate. - The Canadian Press. Day 16 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 start his day at 8:30 a.m. with a press conference and tour at the Fleur-de-Lys construction site. He will then travel to Lac-Mégantic to hold a press briefing at the Granit Hospital at 12:45 p.m. before visiting the Mégantic Sports Centre at 1:25 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., he will hold another press briefing at the Manoir d’Orsennens. Christine Fréchette (Coalition Avenir Québec) CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette is expected to hold a press conference at the Domaine du Cap at 9 a.m. in La Baie. She will then head to Quebec City for another press conference at 1 p.m. at the Domaine de Maizerets. Charles Milliard (Quebec Liberal Party) Liberal Leader Charles Milliard is set to spend the day in the Montérégie region, beginning with an announcement about seniors at 9:15 a.m. at the Centre 55+ for seniors in Châteauguay. He will then have lunch at the Taverne de la Ferme at noon in Ormstown before stopping by Vergers Petch Orchards in Hemmingford at 1:35 p.m. and the Defland vegetable farm in Napierville at 2:30 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., he will head to the Richmond Expo in Cleveland. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Parti Québécois) PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is slated to be in Greater Montreal, holding a press briefing on gas prices at 11 a.m. at Parc St-Mark in Longueuil with candidates Nicolas Marceau (Marie-Victorin), Alain Therrien (Sanguinet) and Sandra Hernandez (Taillon). He is then scheduled to take a walk along the Saint-Charles pedestrian street at noon. In the afternoon, he will meet with Cree Grand Chief John Paul Murdoch at 2 p.m. at an undisclosed location before participating in a debate at the Saint-Donat Community Recreation Centre at 6:30 p.m. in the Camille-Laurin riding in Montreal. Ruba Ghazal (Québec Solidaire) QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal is expected to be in Montreal. At 1:15 p.m., she will present the party’s financial framework at the Esplanade Tranquille before meeting with the Montreal Transport Union (CSN) at Papineau station at 3 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., she will visit the Verdun campaign office and hand out flyers with Verdun candidate Alejandra Zaga Mendez on Wellington Street. The leaders
