Quebec election kicks off Thursday as voters prepare for Oct. 5 vote

The formal launch of Quebec's provincial election campaign is set for Thursday, culminating in a vote on Oct. 5, the first election not headed by François Legault since his 2018 win. Christine Fréchette, who took over as premier in April, will contest the Trois-Rivières seat for the Coalition Avenir Québec, while party leaders Ruba Ghazal (Québec Solidaire), Charles Milliard (Liberal Party), Éric Duhaime (Conservative Party) and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Parti Québécois) are running in various ridings across the province.

With 127 ridings, a majority now requires 64 seats, and recent polls suggest a tight contest that may produce a minority government, a scenario not seen since 2012. The PQ currently leads in the polls despite limited public appetite for a sovereignty referendum, which it plans to hold after the current U.S. presidency ends. Key voter concerns include health and social services, the cost of living, housing and the economy, and recent U.S.-Canada trade tensions are expected to feature in the debate.