Quebec votes: Party leaders make last appeals in final hours of campaign
Quebec's major party leaders made their final appeals to voters Sunday as residents across the province prepared to cast their ballots on Oct. 3.
Polls are open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. During that time, Quebecers will endorse or condemn their leaders' conduct during a major language law overhaul, existential questions on provincial identity, and of course, the pandemic.
Here's how party leaders spent the precious final hours on the campaign trail:
- Still undecided? Check out CTV's guide to all the major parties' platforms
- Not sure how or where to vote? All the information you need is here
- Want to look back on key moments of the campaign? Click here to see CTV's Election Hub
'EVERYONE MATTERS'
Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade began her day in the northern-Quebec riding of Ungava alongside Tunu Napartuk, the former mayor of Kuujjuak.
Anglade is facing some election uncertainty as polls suggest there is a chance she could lose her own seat in southwest Montreal. Instead of rallying her base there, she opted to spend Sunday about 1,500 kilometres north. In doing so, she said she hoped to send a clear message: "that everyone matters"
She made the remark after facing questions on what her visit means in the context of a campaign period with very little talk of Indigenous affairs from any party.
"It doesn't matter where you're from, it doesn't matter where you live in the territory, that you're a Quebecer, and we all want to build a society together. We all want to move forward together."
Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade speaks with local candidate Gil Theriault at L'Anse-aux-Baleiniers in Fatima, Les Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Que. on Saturday, October 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nigel Quinn
Anglade was asked if a Liberal government would do more to centre Indigenous issues, Anglade said that "it would definitely be hard to do less than what has been done." She said her government would work to establish dialogue with Indigenous communities and improve education, access to justice, and ensure that Indigenous residents have access to "running water."
'VOTE FOR YOUR CHILDREN'
Quebec Solidaire's Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois spent his day shoring up support in the Montreal area. The party is hoping to make gains across the island, including some Liberal strongholds in the west.
Party spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois told supporters and press that "the best action to take for the environment is to vote for Quebec Solidaire."
"If you're looking for a reason to vote tomorrow, I have one for you," said the spokesperson, who throughout the campaign has positioned his party as the greenest of the five. "Go vote for your children, and for your grandchildren."
"Every additional Quebec Solidaire member (in the National Assembly) is a member for the environment," he added.
Quebec Solidaire co-spokespersons Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois talks with supporters following an end of election campaign news conference in Montreal, Sunday, October 2, 2022. Quebecers will go to the polls on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
'LET US WORK FOR YOU'
Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon made his way from the Gaspe to the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region.
During a stop in a Sept-Iles restaurant, St-Pierre Plamondon urged his supporters to speak with undecided family and friends in order to reinvigourate the push for sovereignty in Quebec's capital.
With the rise in popularity of Quebec Solidaire, the Parti Quebecois has had to share the remaining 30 per cent of voters still interested in separation from Canada. In earlier phases of the campaign, polls suggested QS might have wrestled the PQ out of that voter base. However, more recent projections show a four-way tie for second place, with the two separatist parties neck-and-neck in terms of public support.
"If you like our ideas, if you like our way of doing politics," he told supporters Sunday, "let us work for you -- in defence of the regions, in defence of French, for the continuity of Quebec independence."
Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon speaks to supporters on his last event of the election Sunday, October 2, 2022 in Saguenay, Quebec. Quebecers are going to the polls for a general election on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
'WE HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN'
Conservative Leader Eric Duhaime began his day in Laval before heading to the Quebec City-area to rally his base in the Beauce.
Despite polled support rivalling other major parties for second place, the Conservatives are only expected to win a handful of seats. Duhaime himself has called that projected imbalance the "distortion of the century."
Nonetheless, a sizable crowd gathered to cheer for the Conservative leader as he called the area conservative territory "par excellence."
"Tomorrow presents a historic chance," he said, "it has been months, years, that we have been forgotten."
"We haven't been represented, there is a serious political deficit in Quebec."
As of Sunday evening, the conservatives were trailing the CAQ by just 4 per cent in Beauce-Sud, and 2 per cent Beauce-Nord.
Quebec Conservative Party Leader Eric Duhaime greets supporters as he arrives for a rally during an election campaign stop in the West Island of Montreal, Saturday, October 1, 2022. Quebecers will go to the polls on October 3rd. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
'IMPORTANT TO WORK TOGETHER'
Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Francois Legault visited ridings in Montreal and the Eastern Townships. On the day before the election, most, if not all, polls suggest the CAQ will win, despite several gaffs on the campaign trail.
He said Sunday that, if his party forms government, he will prioritize listening to the official opposition.
"I think it will be important to work all together, because we have great, great, great challenges in the next few years regarding the environment, regarding the economy, regarding education, regarding the protection of French," he said.
"I think we all have to be proud of the distinct society we have in Quebec, the way we live together, including Anglophones," he said, adding that he hopes for collaboration in order to "stop seeing the percentage of Francophones dropping in Quebec."
Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Francois Legault greets supporters during an election campaign stop at a market in Magog, Que., Sunday, October 2, 2022. Quebecers will go to the polls on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.