Election day is less than a week away in Quebec. Candidates have six days left to pitch to voters ahead of election day on Oct. 5. Advance polls closed on Monday evening. Talk of possible U.S. interference in the elections continued to swirl going into the final week of the campaign. Rivals criticized claims by Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette that American officials might try to support the sovereigntist Parti Québecois to weaken Canada. Fréchette tried to distance herself from the controversy that has dogged her for days on Monday by blaming members of her own party for trying to get journalists to pursue a story about foreign interference. Key details: Follow along for the latest updates: Replacing Santé Québec ‘not a very complex goal’: PQ Replacing Santé Québec with another structure - yet to be determined - should happen fairly quickly, according to PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. “My opponents wanted to talk about restructuring to scare people,” he said. ”The real restructuring was the creation of Santé Québec, but we’re just removing a layer and making things more coherent. It’s not a very complex goal.” READ MORE: CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette, who has praised Santé Québec, ridiculed St-Pierre Plamondon’s commitment. “How can a task force, which usually consists of five or six people, possibly take on the task of managing Santé Québec?” she asked. ”It seems to me that this is completely out of step with existing management needs.” Liberal Leader Charles Milliard added that it seems St-Pierre Plamondon has been stuck with a hot potato. “Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon wants to replace one agency with another, so instead of having Santé Québec, we’ll have Québec Santé,” he quipped. “Mr. Plamondon is starting to regret his promise, which doesn’t hold water at all, serves absolutely no purpose and harms the 350,000 workers in the health care sector.” The PQ had proposed replacing Santé Québec to save between $40 million and $100 million a year and decentralize the health care system. - The Canadian Press. PQ vows to improve food quality The Parti Québécois (PQ) says it is committed to improving the quality of food consumed by Quebecers, notably through a new “Qualité Québec” certification, which would be affixed to “locally produced goods that meet higher quality standards.” The party points out that Quebecers and Canadians consume a large amount of ultra-processed foods and food additives linked to risks of diabetes and cancer. It said it also wants to create a university research chair in bio-food policy to advise the government on food quality. “Its mandate will be to evaluate the Canadian regulatory framework, which, among other things, authorizes far too many food additives,” said Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. “It will compare this framework to policies in effect elsewhere in the world, particularly in Europe and the United States, so Quebecers can enjoy some of the healthiest foods in the world.” The party says it also intends to enhance nutrition programs in elementary and secondary schools. “This is knowledge that will serve young Quebecers throughout their lives,” he said. “These programs will be offered by partners and community organizations dedicated to education and food safety.” - The Canadian Press. CAQ eyes undecided voters With less than a week to go before the election, Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette says she wants to focus on undecided voters. Three polls released Monday show a decline in voting intentions for the CAQ - to the extent that the party could be wiped off the map. - The Canadian Press. Religious symbols in school: Milliard won’t touch Bill 94 The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) says it would maintain Bill 94, which prohibits school staff from wearing religious symbols. The law, which also applies to parent volunteers - but not students, can lead to situations of exclusion, Liberal leader Charles Milliard acknowledged. READ MORE: However, he said he is not committed to amending Bill 94, even if it means displeasing part of his electorate. Milliard explained he wants to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision on Bill 21, which has prohibited government employees in Quebec from wearing religious symbols since 2019. - The Canadian Press. Almost a quarter of Quebecers vote in advance polling A total of 23.59 per cent of Quebecers voted in advance polling, according to Elections Quebec Tuesday. Advance polling took place on Sunday and Monday, with the agency stating that 13.79 per cent of people had voted after the first day. The riding with the highest turnout was Louis-Hébert in the Capitale-Nationale at 38.38 per cent, followed by Vanier-Les Rivières in Quebec City at 34.40 per cent. The riding with the lowest voter turnout was Ungava, the largest and most northern provincial electoral district in Quebec, at 8.31 per cent. - Rachel Lau, CTV News digital journalist. Bike for free on election day Voters in Greater Montreal, Quebec City and Sherbrooke will be able to use the Bixi and àVélo bike-sharing services for free to cast their ballots next Monday. Elections Quebec announced Tuesday that the two services would be available on Oct. 5 “to offer citizens an additional transportation option.” - The Canadian Press. Day 34 Here is where the party leaders are planning to start their day, in order of first appearance: Charles Milliard (Quebec Liberal Party) Liberal Leader Charles Milliard will be in Greater Montreal to discuss his “100,000 homes” priority at 8:30 a.m. He will then stop at Café Crème at 9:40 a.m. and walk to the corner of Fleury Street and Christophe-Colomb Avenue at 10:10 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., he will take part in a meeting, a tour and a roundtable discussion at the company Illuxi before holding a press conference at noon. He will then head to Blainville to have lunch at Petinos restaurant at 1 p.m. and participate in a pickleball event at Maurice-Tessier Park at 2:30 p.m. At 3:45 p.m., he will mingle with the public at the Blainville train station before attending a campaign happy hour at 5:35 p.m. at Café Mondello in Montreal. Christine Fréchette (Coalition Avenir Québec) CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette is set to start her day with a press conference at 9 a.m. at Zone Chasse et Pêche/Ecotone Val-d’Or. She will then meet with elected officials at the Lebel-sur-Quévillon community centre at 1 p.m. and residents at 1:15 p.m. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Parti Québécois) PQ Leader Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon is expected to begin his day with a press briefing on improving Quebecers’ food security at 10 a.m. at the Place du Village in Sainte-Thérèse. He will then take a walk and have lunch at Le Montebello bistro at 12:15 p.m. At 1:15 p.m., he will stop at La Toquade restaurant in Saint-André-Avelin. Ruba Ghazal (Québec Solidaire) QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal is slated to remain in Montreal to hold a press briefing on intergenerational inequality at 10:30 a.m. at Étienne-Desmarteau Park. She will then meet with residents of Montreal North at 5:45 p.m. at Saint-Laurent Park. Éric Duhaime (Quebec Conservative Party) Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime is set to hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. at the Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce courthouse. He will then attend a campaign dinner at Microbrasserie La Garnison in Lac-Mégantic at 5 p.m. The leaders
