CAQ leader says Quebec public may be more receptive to fracking

At a press event in Trois-Rivières, Coalition Avenir Québec figure Christine Fréchette claimed that attitudes toward shale-gas extraction are softening among Quebec residents. She cited a recent La Presse poll indicating that while the issue remains divisive, support increases when fracking is presented as a means to reduce reliance on American markets. The CAQ, which under former premier François Legault prohibited shale-gas development in 2022, may reconsider its stance if broader social acceptance emerges.

Fréchette stopped short of endorsing immediate action, emphasizing that any move forward would require clear public backing. The comments come amid ongoing debate with Quebec Conservatives, who are pushing for fossil-fuel projects to spur economic growth.