‘Those who predicted CAQ’s death were wrong’: Quebec minister
Posted August 7, 2026 2:00 pm.
Last Updated August 7, 2026 2:02 pm.
Although his party continues to struggle in the polls, Jean-François Simard, minister for the Capitale-Nationale region, believes that the “prophets of doom” who predicted the demise of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) were wrong. In his view, the CAQ is now “the party of hope” thanks to Christine Fréchette’s leadership.
“I’ve traveled the length and breadth of our region, from Charlevoix to Portneuf. I’ve had hundreds of meetings, and every time, people tell me the same thing. What they tell me, they’re telling you. You’re hearing it too. Things are changing. The situation is no longer the same. Quebecers are paying more attention to the CAQ than ever before,” the outspoken minister asserted Friday during a press briefing in Lac-Beauport, in the Quebec City region.
However, a recent Pallas Data-Qc125-L’actualité poll indicated that the CAQ was still in third place in voting intentions with 19 per cent.
The poll also indicates that the party has lost six points among the French-speaking electorate, putting it neck and neck with the Liberals at 19 per cent.
Projections from the Qc125 poll aggregator indicate that if an election were held today, the CAQ could win only four seats.
“I don’t comment on polls. In fact, the poll that matters to me is the reception I get out in the field. And I can tell you that it’s exceptional,” said Premier Fréchette during the same press briefing.
“When I arrived in April, there were very few—if any—columnists who thought there would be a three-way race. And now, try to find a columnist who isn’t saying there will be a three-way race. I don’t know of any,” she added.
Fréchette also took the opportunity to take a swipe at her two main opponents in the upcoming election campaign.
“Quebecers will have three choices. Either the resignation of the Liberal Party under Charles Milliard, who refuses to defend our identity, our language, and our culture. We’ll also have the illusion of the Parti Québécois, which proposes erecting borders and thinks its referendum will solve everything—when in fact it will create more economic insecurity, and not just for a year, not just for two years—no! For 10 years, for 15 years, and perhaps even longer. Or we’ll have the option of our coalition’s ambition,” she declared.
The premier was in the Quebec City region to announce three new candidates.
Christian Lachance, president of the La Jacques-Cartier Chamber of Commerce, will run to succeed Sylvain Lévesque in Chauveau.
Nathalie St-Pierre, former communications director for Minister Éric Caire, will run in Jean-Lesage. She will face Sol Zanetti of Québec Solidaire. St-Pierre also spent more than 10 years in communications at the Autorité des marchés financiers.
Françoise Faverjon-Fortin, meanwhile, is running in Vanier-Les Rivières. She is replacing CAQ member Mario Asselin, who is stepping down. She served as president and CEO of MedicAlert Canada and as an executive at Export Development Canada.
The provincial elections will take place on Oct. 5.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
