The Globe and Mail
· collected 2026-09-13 · by Marieke Glorieux-Stryckman
Quebec party leaders discussed transport, public safety, and healthcare during their campaign trail ahead of the October 5 election. Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon pledged $550 million over four years for prevention measures in healthcare, while Liberal Leader Charles Milliard proposed investing five percent of the health budget over ten years into preventive services like vaccination and cancer screening. Québec Solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal promised free public transit for those under 25 and over 65, aiming to enhance accessibility and affordability. Coalition Avenir Québec leader Christine Fréchette committed to hiring 300 additional police officers and 50 prosecutors, addressing issues like online crime and mental health.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Saturday, Quebec party leaders focused on healthcare, transportation, and public safety ahead of Oct. 5 elections. The first of three debates is scheduled for Tuesday between leaders from five major parties. Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Liberal Leader Charles Milliard both emphasized preventive measures to ease pressure on the health care system. St-Pierre Plamondon announced his party's plan to invest $550 million over four years in prevention, including promoting physical activity and mental health services. He also pledged to end Santé Québec, a public health agency established in 2024, but clarified not all employees would lose their jobs.
Written for “Quebec Election Campaign” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but all 2 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 8526: attributed speech only · logged 2026-09-13
Promises on transport, public safety and health care filled the air on the Quebec campaign trail on Saturday as leaders prepare to face off in debates next week.
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leaders → fill → debates
The first of three debates between the leaders of the five major parties is scheduled for Tuesday in preparation for the Oct. 5 election.
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Liberal Leader Charles Milliard both said they would put an increased focus on prevention to lighten the province’s health care system.
In a press conference in Montreal on Saturday morning, St-Pierre Plamondon said his party would invest $550 million over four years in prevention measures while encouraging physical activity and mental health care.
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party → schedule → activity
He also promised to crack down on over-prescribing of medications.
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He → promise → medications
“We’re shifting our approach and saying, if we invest money and time in preventing these problems, there will be less people in emergency rooms and less people throughout the system,” he said.
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he → shift → system
He also reiterated his promise to abolish Santé Québec, the province’s public health agency that was created in 2024 and became the sole employer in the health and social services network.
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that → reiterate → network
He said not all the agency’s employees would be laid off by such a move, but did not specify how many would lose their jobs.
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many → say → jobs
In Trois-Rivières, Milliard promised his party would invest five per cent of the province’s health care budget in 10 years in prevention services like vaccination, cancer screening and chronic disease prevention.
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party → promise → vaccination
After a week marked by talks of sovereignty, Milliard tried to paint himself as the best candidate to negotiate with Ottawa on immigration.
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Milliard → mark → immigration
He accused Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette of not wanting to work with the rest of the country.
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He → accuse → country
Québec Solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal said in a press conference in Montreal that, if elected, her party would make public transit free for those under 25 years old and those over 65 years old.
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transit → say → those
She said her party would also increase funding for public transit and highlighted the positive economic and environmental potential of such a measure.
“There are populations with an even greater need for public transit, and right now there are many barriers, whether in terms of service or affordability,” she said.
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she → say → service
She accused the outgoing Coalition Avenir Québec administration of having “abandoned” public transit.
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She → accuse → transit
Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime attended a protest in Quebec City against the ongoing tramway project and called for a clear estimate of the cost.
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Duhaime → attend → cost
He repeated his disapproval of the project, casting instead its support to the so-called “third link” bridge project which has seen various iterations in recent years.
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which → repeat → years
Fréchette, leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, visited the province’s police school in Nicolet, close to Trois-Rivières.
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Fréchette → visit → Rivières
She promised her party would spend $196 million to hire 300 additional police officers and 50 prosecutors in the province.
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party → promise → province
She said online crime, homelessness and mental health issues have made police officers’ jobs more complex.
“Despite our many efforts, ...Quebecers remain worried,” she said.
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she → say → efforts
While the Parti Québécois has been favoured by some public opinion polls, recent surveys appear to show the Coalition Avenir Québec gaining momentum.
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Québec → favour → momentum
