Quebec's Parti Québécois forms minority government with historic low vote share, sparking reform debate
The Parti Québécois won enough seats for a minority government despite receiving only 28% of the vote, the lowest ever for a governing party in Quebec, reigniting calls for electoral reform.
In the latest provincial election, the Parti Québécois captured 59 seats in the National Assembly despite winning only 28% of the popular vote, marking the lowest vote share for a governing party in Quebec history. The first-past-the-post system produced a stark mismatch: the Coalition Avenir Québec received 13% of votes yet won no seats, while Québec Solidaire and the Conservative Party of Quebec each earned over 10% of the vote but secured only a handful of seats.
Reform advocates, including Fair Vote Canada spokesperson Ted Cragg and Mouvement démocratie nouvelle president Jean-Pierre Charbonneau, say the result demonstrates the need for a proportional model. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, along with Québec Solidaire and the Conservative Party, have voiced support for changing the electoral framework. However, previous reform pledges by former prime minister Justin Trudeau and former Quebec premier François Legault were abandoned after elections, leaving uncertainty about future action.
Why it matters
The election outcome exposes flaws in Quebec's voting system, prompting renewed debate over how representative its government truly is.
How this story developed
- Sep 23 Poll finds roughly seven-in-ten Albertans favor remaining in Canada
- Oct 2 Leaders of Quebec's major parties are ramping up outreach in key ridings as the Oct. 5 vote approaches.
- Oct 5 Latest Leger poll shows the Parti Québécois ahead with 29 percent support.
- Oct 6 CAQ’s support slipped to 14 percent amid disputed voter‑card language and unverified foreign‑interference claims.
- Oct 7 PQ secured 59 seats, forming a minority government.
- Oct 8 The latest poll shows a two‑point decline in support for remaining in Canada since the May‑June poll.
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