The Quebec election campaign is entering its final stretch. Leaders have a week left to pitch to voters ahead of election day on Oct. 5. Voters can vote early Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the second and final day of advance polling. Those who attended advance polls on Sunday told The Canadian Press that issues such as health care, the economy, language and the environment were central to their vote. Talk of possible U.S. interference in the elections dominated the conversation on the campaign trail this weekend. Rivals criticized claims by Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette that American officials might try to support the sovereigntist Parti Québecois (PQ) to weaken Canada. Key details: Follow along for the latest updates: PQ pledges to resolve issues with obstetric services if party forms government To quickly resolve issues related to disruptions in regional obstetric services, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon pledged on Monday to remove barriers to recruitment within a month of the election, should he be called upon to form the next government. On Monday, he met with health-care professionals and patients in Lac-Mégantic,Que., one of the regions affected by service coverage issues, along with others in the Témiscouata region, the Gaspé Peninsula, the North Shore, and the Magdalen Islands. With the addition of the PQ, all five major parties in Quebec have now committed to the long-term sustainability of obstetric care in all regions of Quebec, said Dr. Anne Gauvin, during a press briefing with the PQ leader following a meeting in front of the Lac-Mégantic hospital. St-Pierre Plamondon attributed the frequent service disruptions in obstetrics to the excessive centralization of the health-care system carried out by the CAQ government. As a result, local managers are able to recruit candidates to fill positions and ensure service delivery, but they are not authorized to hire them, the PQ leader said. “I pledge to meet within the month with all the managers whose decisions are preventing you from recruiting,” he said. “We can engage in dialogue with the managers to ask why they find themselves in this sort of limbo when it comes to human resources,” the leader added. He argued that solutions to service disruptions vary by region—whether it’s the Outaouais or northern Quebec—and therefore different, tailored solutions will be needed. The Canadian Press CAQ leader blames own party for story about alleged election interference Coalition Avenir Québec leader Christine Fréchette blamed members of her own party for trying to get journalists to pursue a story about foreign interference in the electoral process as she tried to distance herself on Monday from a controversy that has dogged her on the election campaign trail for days. The latest comments come after Fréchette walked back comments on Friday warning that American operatives may be trying to help the sovereigntist Parti Québécois get elected to destabilize the Canadian federation. While Fréchette initially pressed for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss her concerns on Friday morning, she ended the day by issuing a statement confirming there was no evidence of foreign interference in the ongoing provincial election campaign. But she was forced to address the issue again on Monday following a news report by Radio-Canada that revealed someone in the Coalition Avenir Québec had spoken to journalists about foreign interference before they told her, and before the party informed federal authorities. “I think it was ill-advised,” Fréchette told journalists in Mont-Tremblant. “Considering the sensitive nature of the subject, it should have been run by me before speaking to journalists.” The Canadian Press Quebec Conservative leader presents infrastructure plan The Conservative Party of Quebec wants to deregulate the construction industry and prioritize the maintenance of existing assets over the construction of new projects, allocating 80 per cent of the budget to the maintenance and repair of government infrastructure. PCQ leader Éric Duhaime, accompanied by candidates Adrien Pouliot and Tarek Henoud, presented the party’s infrastructure plan on Monday afternoon in Victoriaville, Que. The PCQ intends to allocate 80 per cent of the Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI) to asset maintenance “until the asset maintenance deficit represents 6 to 7 per cent of the replacement value of the infrastructure,” a target the party aims to reach within five to seven years. Since the start of the campaign, Éric Duhaime’s party has repeatedly stated that it intends to increase productivity in the construction industry, and one way to achieve this is by removing constraints on contractors carrying out public works. “With the specifications we’re proposing, we’ll give contractors complete freedom regarding the methods they use, provided they build something durable,” said Adrien Pouliot, spokesperson for the economy and public finances, in a press release. The Canadian Press PQ could win enough seats for majority, CAQ could win zero seats: poll aggregator According to poll aggregator qc125.com, the PQ are now projected to win 67 seats in the Oct. 5 election — three more than the 64 seats needed to form a majority government. The Liberals are at 37, mostly in Montreal, according to the website. Meanwhile, the Quebec Conservatives are at 15, mostly in the Quebec City region, and Québec solidaire is at eight seats. The CAQ, however, are currently projected to win zero seats in Quebec, according to qc125.com. On the campaign trail, both Duhaime and Milliard tried to position themselves as the change candidates on the no side of the referendum issue. Duhaime called for strategic voting to keep the PQ from getting to majority status, claiming his party has the momentum, while Milliard attacked Fréchette over allegations about U.S. interference that her party fed to the media. Matt Gilmour, CTV News videojournalist 13.79 per cent of Quebecers have already voted So far, 13.79 per cent of Quebecers have voted in advance polling, according to Elections Quebec on Monday morning. The riding with the highest turnout so far is Louis-Hébert in the Capitale-Nationale at 23.62 per cent, followed by Vanier-Les Rivières in Quebec City at 21.04 per cent. The riding with the lowest voter turnout so far is Ungava, the largest and most northern provincial electoral district in Quebec, at 4.8 per cent. - Rachel Lau, CTV News digital journalist. Sovereignty a hot topic in Synopsis/La Presse poll A new poll by Synopsis/La Presse finds that 76 per cent of Quebecers say they plan to vote come Oct. 5. When asked who would make the best premier of Quebec, Parti Québécois (PQ) Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon came out on top with 26 per cent. Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette was second with 18 per cent, Liberal (PLQ) Leader Charles Milliard and Conservative (PCQ) Leader Éric Duhaime received 14 per cent a piece, and QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal was at nine per cent. One per cent of respondents chose “other,” and 18 per cent said “none of the above.” Only four per cent of those surveyed were “very satisfied” with the current government, while 26 per cent were “satisfied,” 31 per cent were “unsatisfied,” and 30 per cent were “very unsatisfied.” An additional 11 per cent did not know. Yes or no? The poll also finds that 25 per cent of Quebecers said they would vote “yes” if a sovereignty referendum were called today. Contrarily, 63 per cent said they would vote “no,” and 12 per cent were unsure. READ MORE: When asked about the probability of a referendum being held if the PQ came to power, 19 per cent said they were “very sure” it would happen, followed by 33 per cent saying they were “mostly sure.” An additional 22 per cent said “probably not,” while eight per cent said there wouldn’t ve a vote. Nineteen per cent didn’t know. Of the respondents, four per cent said that if a referendum were to be held, the yes side would most definitely come out victorious; ten per cent agreed that it could probably happen. Meanwhile, 40 per cent said the no side would probably win, with 27 per cent saying they were sure that an eventual vote would sway against independence. Twenty per cent did not know. The survey was conducted from Sept. 24 to 27, 2026, among 1,000 Quebec respondents. - Rachel Lau, CTV News digital journalist. PQ in the lead, Liberals not too far behind: Leger/Le Journal/TVA poll The Parti Québécois (PQ) is in the lead with 30 per cent (+1) of voter intentions, according to a new poll by Leger/Le Journal/TVA. The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) is not too far behind at 26 per cent (+3). As such, the Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ) is now in third place with 18 per cent (+1), and the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has fallen to 16 per cent (-4). Among francophone voters, the PQ stands at 37 per cent - an 18-point lead over the PCQ at 19 per cent; the CAQ is at 18 per cent. The ongoing trend of Quebecers wanting a new government and a different party in power is up nine points at 74 per cent, with 71 per cent of voters saying they’ve made their final choice, compared to 59 per cent a week ago. The online survey was conducted from Sept. 25 to 27, 2026, among 1,001 Quebec respondents aged 18 or older who are eligible to vote. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of no more than ±3.10 per cent, 19 times out of 20. - Rachel Lau, CTV News digital journalist. PQ holds strong, as CAQ slips in Pallas Dallas poll A new poll by Pallas Dallas shows the Parti Québécois (PQ) leading the pack with 30 per cent (+2) of voter intentions. In second place is the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) at 23 per cent (+1), followed by the Coalition Avenir Québec at 19 per cent (-3), the Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ) at 17 per cent (+1) and Québec solidaire at 10 per cent (-1). The PQ leads in voter intentions in every age group, except the 50 to 64 category, where the Liberals are the top choice. Among those aged 18 to 34, the Conservatives remain their second choice. The province is also split geographically, with Montreal voters preferring the Liberals and the rest of Quebec leaning towards the PQ; in Quebec City, the PCQ is particularly popular. Men (34 per cent; +5) prefer the PQ, while women (26 per cent; +4) lean towards the Liberals. PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was named the best option for premier of Quebec, at 32 per cent (+3). He was followed by CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette (18 per cent; +2), despite her party slipping in the polls, PLQ Leader Charles Milliard (17 per cent; -2) and PCQ Leader Éric Duhaime (14 per cent; +1). Twelve per cent (+1) said they didn’t know, while eight per cent (-5) said QS Leader Ruba Ghazal would make the best premier. READ MORE: This is despite Ghazal being the only leader who respondents said they had a positive opinion of (36 per cent; +2) compared to negative (33 per cent; -3) and neutral (31 per cent; +1). By comparison, respondents said they had a largely negative impression of Fréchette (56 per cent; - 1), Milliard (39 per cent; +4), St-Pierre Plamondon (41 per cent; -7) and Duhaime (52 per cent; -2). The Pallas Data survey was conducted from Sept. 25 to 26, 2026. Data were collected from a random sample of 1,198 Quebec respondents via automated calls. The margin of error is estimated at ±3%, 19 times out of 20 around the 50 per cent threshold. - Rachel Lau, CTV News digital journalist. PSPP puts ‘the pedal to the metal,’ eyes majority PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says he intends to “put the pedal to the metal” in the final week before the election. With his party leading with 30 per cent of voter intentions, according to three polls, he said Monday that he would do his best to win over undecided voters. He also stated, in English, that he plans to secure a majority government. - The Canadian Press. QS wants rapid mental health access for young people To address the rise in psychological distress among young people, Québec solidaire is promising to provide mental health services at 400 CLSC access points it says it will create. The multidisciplinary teams would consist of professionals trained in psychosocial intervention, such as social workers, psychologists, psychoeducators and nurses. QS says it aims to ensure that “anyone who visits a CLSC for mental health care” can see a counsellor the same day. “We can help young people overcome stress and anxiety, but to do so, we must rebuild a strong first line of defense in mental health,” said Québec Solidaire Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal. “This is what Québec solidaire is proposing with the establishment of Mental Health Intake Teams in CLSCs across Quebec. These teams will enable rapid intervention and guarantee a minimum of three sessions with the same professional.” At the start of the election campaign, Québec solidaire had proposed expanding the CLSC network and making it the gateway to the health care system. - The Canadian Press. Advance polling underway Quebecers have the option to head to the polls early to avoid voting on election day. Advance polling stations opened on Sunday and are set to remain so from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. The address of where to go for a particular riding can be found on the registration notice received in the mail, as well as on the Elections Quebec website. Advance voting has increasingly become popular over the years, with 37 per cent of Quebecers casting their vote early in 2022. The election is slated to take place next Monday, Oct. 5. Before the National Assembly was dissolved, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) formed a majority government with 79 members. The Quebec Liberal Party had 18 members, Québec Solidaire held 11 seats, the Parti Québécois (PQ) had seven, and the Quebec Conservative Party had one. There were also nine independent members. - Rachel Lau, CTV News digital journalist. Day 33 Here is where the party leaders are planning to start their day, in order of first appearance: Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Parti Québécois) PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is expected to begin his day with a press briefing on public safety at 8:45 a.m. in Ulverton. He will then travel to Lac-Mégantic to meet with the “Nos régions, nos soins” and “L’avenir naît ici” committees, followed by a press conference at the Centre hospitalier du Granit at 12:45 p.m. In the afternoon, he will take a walk through downtown Magog at 4:15 p.m. and wrap up the day with dinner at the Cantons microbrewery. Christine Fréchette (Coalition Avenir Québec) CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette is set to begin her day in the Laurentians, meeting with residents at 10 a.m. at the Espace public in Mont-Tremblant. She will then head to Abitibi-Témiscamingue to meet with elected officials at Rouyn-Noranda City Hall at 5:05 p.m. and hold a meeting with the Rouyn-Noranda Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 5:50 p.m. At 6:45 p.m., she will meet with residents at the Polonais Cocktail-Bar in Rouyn-Noranda. Charles Milliard (Quebec Liberal Party) Liberal Leader Charles Milliard is slated to tour the Chantiers Chibougamau facility at 10 a.m. and meet with the group Les Entêtés at Le Borée restaurant at 11:45 a.m. In the afternoon, he will meet municipal officials at Val-d’Or Regional Airport at 2:45 p.m. before meeting with Air Creebec at 3:30 p.m. He is set to visit the company HydroTech Mining at 4:05 p.m. and conclude the day with a press conference at the Cité de l’Or at 4:50 p.m. Ruba Ghazal (Québec Solidaire) QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal will remain in the Greater Montreal area to hold a press briefing at 10:15 a.m. to present her commitments about mental health at the park pavilion at Quai de la Tortue. She will then meet with students from Université de Montréal at 2:30 p.m. at Café Bar La Brunante. At 6 p.m., she will participate in a vigil in memory of Joyce Echaquan at the Lanaudière Indigenous Friendship Centre in Joliette. Éric Duhaime (Quebec Conservative Party) Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime is set to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. at a location to be confirmed. The leaders
