{
  "id": 3731580,
  "title": "Here are 5 issues to watch in the Quebec provincial election campaign",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/here-are-5-issues-to-watch-in-the-quebec-provincial-election-campaign",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T12:17:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12037350/here-are-5-issues-to-watch-in-the-quebec-provincial-election-campaign/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Quebec heads to the polls in early October after eight years of Coalition Avenir Québec rule, several key issues are expected to dominate the campaign. The Parti Québécois, currently leading in polls, has promised a referendum by 2030 if they form government, although this stance may change if President Donald Trump remains in office.\n\nA tentative multi-billion-dollar deal between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador to share power from the Churchill Falls generating station and develop new hydro, wind, and transmission projects has been reached. However, the deal has not yet been finalized, and Newfoundland and Labrador had to return to the bargaining table after deciding an earlier agreement was insufficient. Meanwhile, Quebec's forest industry faces challenges from U.S. tariffs and forest fires, while the province aims to develop its critical mineral resources and ensure sufficient energy for the future.\n\nCost-of-living issues have been a major concern for Quebecers in 2026, with all major parties pledging to prioritize affordability. Fréchette, the CAQ leader, advocated for reimbursing first-time homebuyers for land transfer taxes and converting non-subsidized daycare spots to subsidized ones. Québec solidaire, the left-wing party, has proposed capping rent increases and raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour, while Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime has promised to slash taxes.\n\nThe U.S. has imposed new 50% tariffs on Canadian exports, affecting goods worth $28 billion. The CAQ has estimated that the tariffs could impact $7.7 billion in Quebec exports, or more than nine percent of what Quebec exports to the United States. Industries such as aluminum, steel, lumber, softwood, and manufacturing are particularly vulnerable to these tariffs. All candidates will need to convince voters that they will defend Quebec's interests and protect workers from potential job losses.\n\nQuebec's Balanced Budget Act requires the government to eliminate the deficit by 2029-30, and the province's auditor general warned on August 17 that significant budget cuts will be necessary to meet this goal. Political science professor Éric Bélanger believes the budgetary situation will force all parties to make tough decisions on how to achieve this objective without offering the same promises that typically characterize election campaigns. Auditor General Christine Roy projected that the government will face multi-billion dollar deficits requiring cuts of at least $2 billion in the first year, and up to $5 billion in the following year.",
  "summary": "Quebecers are heading to the polls in early October, after eight straight years of Coalition Avenir Québec governance. Here are some of the issues that could dominate the campaign.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}