Quebec votes 2026: Leaders talk housing, economy 2 weeks before voting day; PQ faces question on PCQ alliance

With exactly two weeks to go before election day, party leaders unveiled wide-ranging promises on tackling affordable housing, economic development and infrastructure on Monday, even as some leaders see an alliance brewing between the Parti Québécois (PQ) and the Conservatives.

On Monday, a new poll by Radio Canada-Segma Recherche showed little changes, with the PQ maintaining the top position with about 29 per cent of the vote, far ahead of Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), which came in second with 22 per cent. The Quebec Liberals (PLQ) and the Conservatives (PCQ) were in a virtual tie with just one percentage point separating the two parties at 19 and 18 per cent. QS garnered 12 per cent of voters’ support.

The PCQ’s rise in the polls was also marked by an increase in attacks by other parties, with the outgoing premier and CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette leading the charge.

Over the weekend, Fréchette said the “pro-natalist” and austerity policies of the Conservative leader and the PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon were dovetailing toward what she saw an alliance forming between the two parties.

Meanwhile, QS’ Ruba Ghazal said the similarities in policy proposals between the PQ and PCQ made it appear as if there was “bromance” between their leaders.

For his part, PLQ Leader Charles Milliard warned Quebecers that Duhaime’s proposal to cut 20,000 government jobs was “dangerous.”

Political analyst Daniel Tran says the latest poll was an indication that the PQ maybe heading toward a minority government and that the leader may have to seek alliances with other parties.

“It is going to be very hard to go get a majority,” Tran said. “Not impossible, but very hard. So that’s why it’s important that he put that message to encourage his base also to go out and vote.”

At a press conference Monday, St-Pierre Plamondon denied that any formal alliance was brewing with the PCQ, adding that he would prefer to have support on a per-issue basis if his party didn’t get a majority.

“You can agree with a party on one thing and yet agree with other parties on other things and it just doesn’t mean anything else that some ideas might be in all parties and some parties,” he said.

St-Pierre Plamondon spoke to reporters in Montreal while touring the site of the Agora Déclic project, which will provide housing and psychosocial support for youth under the care of the department of youth protection (DPJ).

He said a PQ government led by him would fund the 144-unit facility in Montreal’s Rosemont neighbourhood as part of the party’s promise to halve homelessness by 2030 if elected.

“One-third of homelessness stems from youth in the care of the DPJ,” St-Pierre Plamondon said in a statement. “We should give them the opportunity to lead a normal life, just like all other young people.”

The PQ leader also faced criticism from opponents for his “baby bonus” policy to reverse falling birth rates in Quebec under which families will receive $350 per year when they have a third or a fourth child. The fertility rate in the province was at 1.33 children per woman in 2025, well below the 2.1-level that experts say are needed to maintain the current population level.

Meanwhile Duhaime was also in Montreal with a message to woo young voters to the Conservatives.

Duhaime said his party’s plan to cut $47 billion over five years would necessarily equate to more money in the pockets of young Quebecers.

“A deficit is a deferred bill,” Duhaime said. “When a party promises money it doesn’t have or relies on unidentified savings, young people end up paying the price. Our plan relies on no accounting gimmicks.”

The Conservative leader spoke to reporters alongside his youth co-spokesperson, Eliot Estévez-Verville.

QS co-spokesperson Ghazal also made housing-related announcements Monday, promising to add 50,000 affordable housing units in four years – with half of those coming from existing units in the private market.

Ghazal said a QS-led government would earmark $400 million in rental assistance to support tenants who spend more than 25 per cent of their income on rent. She would also cap rent increases to inflation levels up to a maximum of three per cent and improve tenant rights.

She criticized other parties for “continuing to rely on market forces” which she said led to the current housing crisis.

“I refuse to accept that the number of people experiencing homelessness will continue to rise,” said Ghazal. “This crisis has gone on long enough.”

The PLQ also promised to increase the supply of social and affordable housing, including a promise to build up to 100,000 units a year.

The Liberals made the announcement Monday as part of their pledges for revitalizing Montreal’s East End.

Among other promises made by PLQ leaders include prioritizing the expansion and upgrade of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, extension of STM’s Blue line, decontamination of the land in the eastern part of the island to support economic growth.

For her part, CAQ Leader Fréchette released a $1.2-billion economic plan to counter the effects of the ongoing U.S.-Canada trade war and other disruptions in the global energy supply chain and developments in artificial intelligence.

“Our self-sufficiency depends on a stronger economy,” Fréchette said. “We want a government that intervenes where it can truly make a difference, that lets our entrepreneurs do their work, and that prepares our workers for the jobs of tomorrow.”

The CAQ government would spend $400 million to train Quebecers in the workplace and $300 million on developing natural resources in the region and another $300 million for port infrastructure along the St. Lawrence River.

Fréchette also promised to revise the tax brackets revenue within the first 100 days of a new term to help small businesses to avoid a sudden jump in taxation when they reach half a million.

The CAQ also promised to implement Hydro-Québec’s $200 billion investment plan to increase electricity production.

Advance polling takes place Sunday and Monday, ahead of the Oct. 5 election day.