Quebec’s election campaign enters its ninth day, with many of the party leaders spending the day in the Quebec City area. The election is scheduled for Oct. 5. Key details: Follow along for the latest updates: $60M a year for ‘zero homelessness,’ pledges PLQ Liberal Leader Charles Milliard is pledging to invest an additional $60 million annually to achieve “zero homelessness.” The funding would be used, he says, to support young people leaving youth centres, prevent evictions, enhance the rent assistance program, increase funding for homelessness resources and mental health services and expand transitional housing. The Liberals say they are also committed to holding a “national summit on homelessness,” bringing together municipalities, Indigenous nations, researchers, community organizations, health and housing networks, as well as economic, labour and philanthropic stakeholders. “We must not simply react to emergencies and add shelter beds here and there, as the CAQ has done,” said Milliard. “Every story of homelessness stems from different issues that require actions tailored to those realities. We are proposing a concrete plan that will enable people to avoid ending up on the streets or to get off the streets and find a home.” Data from April 2025 shows that visible homelessness in Quebec had increased by 20 per cent - 12,077 people compared to 1,873 in 2022. - The Canadian Press. CAQ doubts viability of a sovereign Quebec CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette says she doubts the viability of a sovereign Quebec. “It would be difficult,” she said, avoiding a direct answer. “It would involve a lot of risk and a lot of uncertainty.” She continued: “We can’t delude ourselves into thinking it will come at no cost.” “There will certainly be costs, and there will also be uncertainty that will persist for several years because people need to know what to expect — they need predictability — before moving forward with investment projects. We’re seeing this with the trade war,” she said. - The Canadian Press. Support for Quebec’s artists Québec Solidaire says it wants to provide greater support to Quebec artists in the face of stifling competition from American giants. The left-wing party has pledged that, if it forms the next government, it will double funding for the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec (CALQ) and the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC). - The Canadian Press. PQ accuses CAQ, Ottawa of being in cahoots Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says he has reason to suspect Ottawa has aligned itself with the Coalition Avenir Québec, calling it “the greatest interference (...) in our election since 1995.” He says his party has asked the Chief Electoral Officer (DGE) to investigate a contract awarded by the CAQ to federalist organization Mission Leadership Québec, which promotes Canadian unity, to organize its public meetings, as revealed by Le Journal de Québec. “I think we should be concerned about the possibility that we are facing the greatest federal interference in our affairs and our election since 1995,” said St-Pierre Plamondon. - The Canadian Press. Relax building codes to speed up construction, says CAQ The Coalition Avenir Québec says it wants to partially deregulate the construction industry to address the housing crisis. If re-elected for a third term, the CAQ says it plans to revise safety standards and eliminate requirements deemed unnecessary, redundant or outdated. It would also exempt minor renovations in residential buildings with fewer than eight units, such as remodelling a kitchen or bathroom, from Bill R-20, which regulates the construction industry. - The Canadian Press. Third Link proposal by PCQ Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime presented his plan for a Third Link between Quebec City and Lévis, which he estimates could cost between $2.7 and $3 billion. The PCQ is proposing the construction of a cable-stayed bridge south of Île d’Orléans, connecting Royal Road to Route 132. Duhaime acknowledged that his project is more modest than some may have hoped, but said he believes it represents a balanced approach. - The Canadian Press. Day 9: 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 will be in the Quebec City area to present his Third Link project at 8 a.m. in Lévis. In the afternoon, he is set to hold a press briefing at Le Délice restaurant and bar at 2 p.m., before heading to the Quebec City PoutineFest at 5 p.m. Christine Fréchette (Coalition Avenir Québec) CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette is starting her day with a press conference at Espace Terra at 9 a.m. Around noon, she plans to attend a campaign lunch at the Encan restaurant and bar in Masson-Angers. In the afternoon, she will visit École de l’Envolée in Gatineau, where she will hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. before wrapping up the day at the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival at 4:30 p.m. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Parti Québécois) PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will begin his day with a press briefing on food security at the Chibougamau Hotel at 9 a.m. before heading to Jonquière for a press conference at 3:25 p.m. He is expected to end the day in Quebec City at the Vidéotron Centre with a large party rally at 6:30 p.m. Ruba Ghazal (Québec Solidaire) Accompanied by her co-spokesperson Sol Zanetti, QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal is set to hold a press briefing on measures for workers in Quebec’s cultural production sector at 9:30 a.m. at the Pantoum in Quebec City. She will then head to Saguenay, where she is scheduled to meet with residents at a “Rendez-vous des possibles” event at the BaP at 6:30 p.m. Charles Milliard (Quebec Liberal Party) Liberal Leader Charles Milliard is expected to spend the day in the Quebec City region, making an announcement on homelessness at 11 a.m. before visiting the Lauberivière facilities. He will then visit Moisson Québec at 2:15 p.m. and participate in a curling event at the Jacques-Cartier Curling Club at 6 p.m. The leaders
