Quebecers head to the polls, under half of voters have cast a ballot
Quebecers are casting their votes Monday after a five-week election campaign dominated by divisive issues like immigration, climate, the cost of living, health care, and Quebec identity.
Polls are open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- 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? Visit CTV's Election Hub
CTV News has already declared Francois Legault's Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) will form a majority government, but with many ballots still to count, there remains a lot of uncertainty for the next National Assembly.
The tightest race remains for second place, with other parties still neck-and-neck. The Liberals (PLQ) are projected to get 16 per cent of the vote, Quebec solidaire (QS) and the Conservatives (CPQ) are tied for 15 per cent, and the Parti Quebecois (PQ) at 14 per cent.
As for how that support will result in elected seats, the CAQ is projected to win 92 ridings, for a majority of the 125 total seats. The PLQ is projected to form a relatively weak official opposition with 21, QS is likely to win approximately nine, the PQ could take three, and despite popular support rivalling other parties, the Quebec Conservatives are not projected to send any candidates to Quebec City.
Party leaders spent Sunday making their final appeals to voters, hoping their stances on language, climate change, and Indigenous issues will win people over.
RIDINGS TO WATCH
Here are some of Quebec's most hotly-contested ridings:
SANT-HENRI-SAINTE-ANNE
This riding in Montreal's southwest is held by Quebec Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade. Oct. 2 polls suggest a three-way split in support for the Liberals (30 per cent), the CAQ (27 per cent), and Quebec Solidaire (27 per cent).
It's an unusually tight race for the riding which has been long-considered a Liberal stronghold.
CAMILLE-LAURIN (BOURGET)
Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is hoping to take a seat from the CAQ in Camille-Laurin, in Montreal's southeast.
Apart from being home to the PQ leader, this riding made headlines during the campaign after videos surfaced showing a QS candidate swiping her opponant's flyers from a mailbox. That candidate stepped down shortly after, leaving a tight race between the PQ and CAQ.
Polls suggest an extremely tight race between St-Pierre Plamondon and incumbent CAQ candidate Richard Campeau.
THE BEAUCE
The Beace, which is actually two Quebec City-area ridings called Beauce-Nord, and Beauce-Sud, are at the centre of the newly-popular Quebec Conservative Party's base.
Conservative Leader Eric Duhaime spent his last day on the campaign trail here, calling the area Conservative territory "par-excellence."
Polls suggest a very tight race against the CAQ in both ridings.
JEAN-LESAGE
After going deep red in 2014, voters in the riding have turned their support to the CAQ and QS. Quebec Solidaire incumbent Sol Zanetti is defending his seat from CAQ contender Christiane Gamache -- and polls suggest the race is very close.
VOTER TURNOUT
As of 5:30 p.m., just over 44 per cent of Quebec electors showed up at the polls both on election day and in advanced polling, according to Elections Quebec.
People prepare to vote, Monday, October 3, 2022 at a polling station in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
In the advance poll, a record-breaking 24 per cent of Quebec electors (over 1.5 million people) cast their votes.
Elections Quebec is expected to provide updates on the Oct. 3 voter turnout throughout the day.
In the 2018 general election, voter turnout was at 66 per cent.
The lowest voter turnout was in the following ridings:
- Marguerite-Bourgeoys: 35.42 per cent (Incumbent: Hélène David)
- Bourassa-Sauve: 33.72 per cent (Incumbent: Paule Robitaille)
- Robert-Baldwin: 33.70 per cent (Incumbent: Carlos J. Leitão)
- Chateauguay: 33.09 per cent (Incumbent: Marie-Chantal Chassé)
- Acadie: 32.35 per cent (Incumbent: Christine St-Pierre)
- Jeanne-Mance-Viger: 31.79 per cent (Incumbent: Filomena Rotiroti)
- Viau: 31.7 per cent (Incumbent: Frantz Benjamin)
- Saint-Laurent: 31.57 per cent (Incumbent: Marwah Rizqy)
- Westmount-Saint-Louis: 31.12 per cent (Incumbent: Jennifer Maccarone)
- Nelligan: 29.61 per cent (Incumbent: Monsef Derraji)
- Duplessis: 25.05 per cent (Incumbent: Lorraine Richard)
- D'Arcy-McGee: 24.57 per cent (Incumbent: David Birnbaum)
- Ungava: 19.99 per cent (Incumbent: Denis Lamothe)
This is a developing story that will be updated.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.