Five things that happened during the first two debates of Quebec election campaign

In the first two debates of the Quebec election campaign, several key points emerged. Christine Fréchette, leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, frequently referenced a potential referendum on sovereignty, even when the topic wasn't directly addressed. This led her opponents, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon of the Parti Québécois and Charles Milliard of the Quebec Liberal Party, to question her stance on the issue.

Fréchette attempted to distance herself from the Coalition Avenir Québec's unpopular administration, which had come under fire for issues like cost overruns at the auto insurance board and a failed electric battery plant. Her rivals frequently criticized her party for being wasteful and scandal-ridden.

The ongoing trade war with the United States was also a significant factor in the election. Fréchette positioned herself as a stabilizing force amidst economic uncertainties, highlighting her ability to broker deals, such as the recent energy agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador. Her opponents argued that a change in government was necessary to address these challenges.

Québec solidaire's Ruba Ghazal and Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime presented their parties as the only ones promoting genuine change. Ghazal emphasized her commitment to environmental protection and plans to boost public services through taxation of the wealthy, while Duhaime promised to deviate from the "old bureaucratic model" by reducing taxes and cutting bureaucratic waste.

The pair engaged in some playful banter during the debates, with Duhaime suggesting that bureaucrats shouldn't stock tomatoes in public grocery stores, which prompted Ghazal to point out that Quebec has more to offer than just natural gas.

Finally, after the debates, party leaders were asked to comment on a Superior Court decision that ordered Élections Québec to provide voting reminder cards in both French and English. Fréchette expressed her commitment to promoting the French language and protecting the English community, while Milliard welcomed the decision, calling it a "great thing for our democracy."