Quebec voters head to the polls with Parti Québécois poised for change
The Parti Québécois, which has promised a sovereignty referendum in 2029, is the front-runner after two CAQ majority governments.
MONTREAL — Voters in Quebec's 127 ridings are heading to the polls Monday to choose a new provincial government after two straight Coalition Avenir Québec majority governments.
The Parti Québécois appears to be the front-runner as the 40-day election campaign ends.
"I hope that tomorrow there will be a significant change in direction, and I think that’s what the people of Quebec are expecting," PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Sunday.
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He spent his last day of campaigning in the Montreal region, where the party hopes to flip seats after a decade of weak support.
St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged to launch a referendum on sovereignty if his party forms a government, but not before U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the White House in 2029.
His rivals warned voters against choosing a party that has promised a referendum before the end of its first term.
Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette said her party is the only one that offers an alternative to the sovereigntist-federalist split by focusing on nationalism and economic growth within Canada.
She expressed regret over not having emphasized the threat of a referendum more.
"It's important for people to realize this, because it's not just a decision that could affect Quebec in three years," she said. "There will be impacts because uncertainty will become part of Quebec’s political and economic calendar."
Féchette, whose party has been trailing in the polls, campaigned in the riding of Trois-Rivières.
Liberal Leader Charles Milliard described his party as the only federalist option and urged strategic voting to avoid a PQ government.
He warned a PQ minority would seek support for a referendum from other parties.
"One party that Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon won't be calling up is the Liberal Party of Quebec, because we're proudly federalist and not ashamed to say it," Milliard said.
He said his party had gained momentum since the start of the campaign.
Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime urged his supporters to cast enough votes to give his party a strong voice in the legislature.
Duhaime has promised to act as a "guard dog" to protect taxpayer interests and attempt to block a referendum vote.
"I'm very, very serene, and I have confidence," he said. "The only thing is, we have to make sure people go out and vote."
In Montreal, Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal made a final appeal to progressive sovereigntist voters.
"Send a signal that not all of Quebec has swung to the right or turned conservative, and also send people who will be the only ones to stand up to Éric Duhaime's influence in the next parliament," she said.
Élections Québec says nearly a quarter of voters had already cast their ballots in advance.
Polls close across the province at 8 p.m.
With files from The Canadian Press, The Globe and Mail and CBC News