On the fourth day of Quebec’s election campaign, the focus has primarily been on affordability, with the exception of the Parti Québécois (PQ) highlighting the protection of the French language.
The PQ aims to expand the reach of the Charter of the French Language, also known as Bill 101, to CEGEPs and to the children of temporary immigrants residing in Quebec for more than a year.
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) is committed to achieving a balanced budget by 2030, despite facing a $6 billion deficit. CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette disclosed that the party’s electoral commitments will amount to nearly $10 billion over the next five years. Some of the unveiled promises include allocating $1 billion for home care services and senior housing initiatives, along with $304 million in regional support. The CAQ plans to sustain investments in public infrastructure and navigate the challenges posed by the 50% tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, postponing any tax reductions until a balanced budget is realized.
Québec Solidaire (QS) criticized the CAQ for its handling of the housing crisis while presenting its own housing plan. QS proposed seven measures, such as establishing a national rental unit registry and advocating for a national strategy to eliminate homelessness. QS plans to disclose the financing details in an upcoming fiscal framework.
Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard pledged to limit rent increases in private seniors’ residences and shift the burden of contesting rent hikes away from residents. The Quebec Liberals highlighted the escalating cost of rent in private home care, emphasizing that the new protection measures would not compromise essential services.
The Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) proposed abolishing the Quebec sales tax on used goods, aiming to return an average of $867 to Quebecers. PCQ plans to slash government spending by $47 billion over five years without affecting public services, ultimately saving an average household around $11,000.
Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon reiterated his party’s commitment to protecting the French language, intending to extend Bill 101 to CEGEPs and certain temporary migrants. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized reinforcing French language requirements for work permits and investigating the language of socialization in Montreal and Laval schools to bolster French language usage, aligning with the party’s sovereignist agenda of being a predominantly French-speaking country.
