Bienvenue to our look at the Quebec provincial election set for October 3. There are 125 seats in the National Assembly of Quebec in Quebec City, the capital. A party needs 63 seats for a majority in the assembly.
Premier François Legault leads the Coalition Avenir Québec looking for a second straight majority government. The CAQ has 76 seats at the dissolution of the assembly, 74 seats from the 2018 election.
Dominique Anglade, former Quebec deputy premier, won a 1-person race to be the leader of the Liberal Party and the official opposition leader. The party had 27 seats, down from the 31 elected in 2018.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois with Manon Massé are co-spokespeople of the left-wing Québec solidaire with 10 seats, same as the total from the 2018 election.
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is the new leader of the Parti Québécois. The party had 7 seats, down from the 10 seats won in 2018. The Conservative Party, no relation to the federal party, has Éric Duhaime as the leader. The party had 1 seat on a floor crossing.
There were 4 independents MNAs at dissolution.
Exploring the consequences of Bill 96 in Quebec
Looking at Bill 21 in Quebec during a pandemic
Manitoba offers respite for those suffering under Bill 21 in Quebec
Bill 96. Bill 21. A number of controversial (legit controversial) bills could certainly be on the ballot in 2022. Unfortunately, the momentum against the bills is more in Montréal and Quebec City than elsewhere in the province. The fact that Bill 21 still has not reached the Supreme Court of Canada and we are in the 2022 election speaks volumes to the molasses-like speed of Canadian justice.
The strategy of such bills may lead to an easy win on October 3. This is where political coverage ends. We believe in politics where people are lifted up, not beaten down because they don't fit a rigid definition of what they should be.
Legault's logic is that if you are against these bills, you are against the French language, francophones, and La Belle Province. We humbly disagree. If you have to use the notwithstanding clause to trample on the rights of citizens, you have poorly drawn legislation.
Quebec handled the height of the COVID-19 pandemic slightly better than their mes amis in Ontario. Like Doug Ford, the voters aren't likely to judge Legault for his actions against the pandemic.
Quebec turns to Coalition Avenir Québec to run province
2018 Quebec election preview
The “cette madame” gaffe, approximately 37 seconds into the Quebec election campaign. https://t.co/AB5P7I6epH
— Les Perreaux (@perreaux) August 28, 2022
A sign of how this campaign might go: In May, the English language leaders debate was called off after 2 party leaders refused to participate: Premier François Legault (CAQ) and Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
The French language debates are definitely more important in a Quebec election but the English language debates proved useful to those in the larger cities and elsewhere in Canada.
Legault said his party's 5 priorities are the environment, health, education, the economy, and defending Quebec identity.
Anglade said her party will focus on the economy and cost of living, mentioning high inflation, high housing prices, and the ongoing labour shortage.
Anglade objected to Legault's refusal to address her by her name in the "cette madame" mention.
2022 Canadian politics preview
CanadianCrossing.com Quebec coverage
BREAKING: Quebec's 43rd general election officially kicks off today https://t.co/xPg6WSFMqU
— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) August 28, 2022
The 2022 election may be more a matter of which parties outside of the CAQ can gain strength and momentum in numbers in the National Assembly. Will the CAQ have a smaller majority or even a minority government?
The Liberals will attract non-francophone voters. Their strength is in Montréal and Laval yet needing to win more rural seats. Québec solidaire may be going after some of those same voters.
How relevant will the Parti Québécois be after the 2022 election? The Conservative Party of Quebec has had a lot of talk but hasn't elected a MNA from the party. How much of the party's voice is a reaction to pandemic restrictions and an outlet for racist rhetoric?
The last Quebec premier to win back-to-back elections was Jean Charest for the Liberal Party from 2003-2012. Charest is currently a candidate for the leadership of the federal Conservative Party.
photo credit: @qcgnjustice
Twitter captures: @perreaux; @CBCAlerts
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