Parties talk taxes, trade war and parental leave on Day 2 of Quebec election campaign

Day 2 of the Quebec election campaign saw leaders from Coalition Avenir Québec, Parti Québécois, and Parti Libéral du Québec discussing taxes, trade war, and parental leave. CAQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon pledged to cut taxes for businesses by 20% if his party wins the Oct. 5 election, stating the current government's "economic interventionism" as a failure.

The Quebec government had pledged $2.9 billion towards a cancelled Northvolt electric battery plant project. Fréchette, who was energy minister when the project was scrapped, vowed to cut subsidies to foreign multinationals and focus on Quebec's small and medium businesses. Parti Libéral du Québec Leader Charles Milliard aimed to reduce the share of Quebec exports going to the United States by at least 15% by diversifying markets, and he rejected the notion that federalists were turning to the CAQ.

Fréchette announced plans to boost Quebec's parental insurance plan to include an extra two weeks of leave for fathers, as well as greater flexibility and bereavement leave. She also proposed allowing parents to transfer some of their leave to another involved adult. Meanwhile, Québec solidaire expanded on a promise to open 15 public grocery stores to lower food costs.

Conservatives, in Quebec City, announced a tax cut that would raise the basic personal amount in Quebec's income tax brackets from $18,952 to $35,242.