Quebec party leaders talk transport and health as first debate approaches

MONTREAL — Promises on transport, public safety and health care filled the air on the Quebec campaign trail on Saturday as leaders prepare to face off in debates next week.

The first of three debates between the leaders of the five major parties is scheduled for Tuesday in preparation for the Oct. 5 election.

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Liberal Leader Charles Milliard both said they would put an increased focus on prevention to lighten the province’s health care system.

In a press conference in Montreal on Saturday morning, St-Pierre Plamondon said his party would invest $550 million over four years in prevention measures while encouraging physical activity and mental health care. He also promised to crack down on overprescribing of medications.

“We’re shifting our approach and saying, if we invest money and time in preventing these problems, there will be less people in emergency rooms and less people throughout the system,” he said.

He also reiterated his promise to abolish Santé Québec, the province’s public health agency that was created in 2024 and became the sole employer in the health and social services network. He said not all the agency’s employees would be laid off by such a move, but did not specify how many would lose their jobs.

In Trois-Rivières, Milliard promised his party would invest five per cent of the province’s health care budget in 10 years in prevention services like vaccination, cancer screening and chronic disease prevention.

After a week marked by talks of sovereignty, Milliard tried to paint himself as the best candidate to negotiate with Ottawa on immigration. He accused Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette of not wanting to work with the rest of the country.

Québec Solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal said in a press conference in Montreal that, if elected, her party would make public transit free for those under 25 years old and those over 65 years old.

She said her party would also increase funding for public transit and highlighted the positive economic and environmental potential of such a measure.

“There are populations with an even greater need for public transit, and right now there are many barriers, whether in terms of service or affordability,” she said.

She accused the outgoing Coalition Avenir Québec administration of having “abandoned” public transit.

Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime attended a protest in Quebec City against the ongoing tramway project and called for a clear estimate of the cost.

He repeated his disapproval of the project, casting instead its support to the so-called “third link” bridge project which has seen various iterations in recent years.

Fréchette, leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, visited the province’s police school in Nicolet, close to Trois-Rivières. She promised her party would spend $196 million to hire 300 additional police officers and 50 prosecutors in the province.

She said online crime, homelessness and mental health issues have made police officers’ jobs more complex.

“Despite our many efforts, … Quebecers remain worried,” she said.

While the Parti Québécois has been favoured by some public opinion polls, recent surveys appear to show the Coalition Avenir Québec gaining momentum.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2026.

— With files from Quentin Dufranne, Coralie Laplante, Thomas Laberge and Caroline Plante.

Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman, The Canadian Press