Quebec leaders clash on sovereignty, health care in final debate

Quebec’s five major party leaders took part in the campaign’s third and final debate on Wednesday evening, Sept. 23, making their cases to voters less than two weeks before the provincial election scheduled for Oct. 5. The debate, hosted by Radio-Canada, covered Quebec’s future, the economy, taxes and public services, child care and health care. The exchange highlighted competing positions on sovereignty, immigration and the performance of the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ). Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon defended his pledge to delay an independence referendum until after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office. He said the current situation with the United States does not offer a calm climate for Quebecers to reflect on their future. The proposal came under questioning from Liberal Leader Charles Milliard. St-Pierre Plamondon has also pledged to spend $130 million on referendum preparations, including consultations before a proposed vote after January 2029. The Parti Québécois has separately pledged to reduce the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec from 500,000 to 250,000.