Quebec election campaign to kick off Thursday after premier meets with lieutenant-governor

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette is set to meet with the province’s lieutenant-governor, Manon Jeannotte, on Thursday, marking the beginning of the election campaign. The meeting follows a cabinet session at 10 a.m. Under Quebec’s electoral rules, Fréchette must formally request the lieutenant-governor to dissolve the legislature to call an election. Quebec’s election is slated for October 5, translating to a 39-day campaign period.

The Parti Québécois, led by Fréchette, has held the lead in recent polls since 2023 and has secured four consecutive by-election victories. However, the margin has narrowed in recent times, with factors like renewed talks of sovereignty and the U.S. trade dispute potentially influencing the campaign's outcome. Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged to hold a sovereignty referendum within the next four years if his party secures power, though he recently indicated the vote would wait until President Donald Trump's term ends.

Fréchette will helm the Coalition Avenir Québec in the election campaign, replacing François Legault, who assumed the role earlier this year. She will face off against the Parti Québécois leader, Quebec Liberal Party leader Charles Milliard, Québec solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal, and the Conservative Party’s Éric Duhaime. Currently, the Coalition Avenir Québec commands 79 seats in the legislature, compared to 18 for the Parti Québécois, 11 for Québec solidaire, and seven for the Conservatives.

The party holds one seat, with nine independent members in the chamber. This report, authored by The Canadian Press, originally appeared on August 26, 2026.