Quebec October 2026 –

2026 Quebec provincial election results
Parti Québécois 59 seats
Quebec Liberal Party 40 seats
Conservative Party of Quebec 19 seats
Québec solidaire 9 seats
Turnout 66.92%

12 November
Quebec must welcome more immigrants and embrace bilingualism, BMO chief warns
BMO Quebec president Grégoire Baillargeon is urging Quebec to increase immigration and stop treating language as a source of division, warning the province’s economic future depends heavily on Montreal’s ability to grow. In a speech to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, whose board he chairs, Baillargeon says Quebec needs approximately 70,000 permanent immigrants annually to maintain its workforce and population growth, double the 35,000 targeted by the newly elected Parti Québécois government. His comments come amid a study projecting Montreal’s working-age population could fall to nearly its 2011 level by 2030, as the city loses young adults to other regions and faces tighter immigration restrictions. Baillargeon says French should be celebrated alongside bilingualism, noting that multilingualism is an economic advantage. He also calls for faster immigration permits for workers in priority industries and quicker approval of major construction projects, arguing Montreal generates more than half of Quebec’s GDP and the province cannot prosper if its largest economic centre stagnates. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and former premier Lucien Bouchard were in the audience, among other high-profile business leaders.
Victime de sa réputation
(via TALQ) Le Devoir columnist Michel David says Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s Parti Québécois government is already struggling with public opinion, despite having been elected less than a month ago. A recent Pallas Data poll found just 24 per cent of Quebecers are satisfied with the new government, while 51 per cent are dissatisfied, a sharp reversal from an earlier poll showing more positive sentiment. David suggests the government’s confrontational approach toward Ottawa, including refusing to attend federal meetings and challenging the role of the lieutenant-governor, has reinforced concerns that the PQ wants to distance Quebec from Canada, something most Quebecers do not currently support. He also argues St-Pierre Plamondon is struggling with a reputation for being combative, making it easier for political opponents, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, to portray him negatively.

26 October
Milliard denounces St-Pierre Plamondon for skipping federal meeting with premiers and Indigenous leaders
Liberal leader says PQ leader promised during campaign to co-operate with the rest of Canada if he became premier.
Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard is denouncing the absence of Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon at a meeting in Ottawa on Monday of Canada’s premiers, the prime minister and Indigenous leaders.
In a post on social media, Milliard said an “empty chair” policy does not serve the interests of anyone.
“An important meeting is being held today between the federal government, the premiers of the provinces and representatives of the First Nations,” Milliard wrote on Monday.
“Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has chosen to leave Quebec’s chair empty,” he said,
On Monday, First Nations leaders and Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney were meeting to discuss Indigenous rights. It is the first such meeting in two decades. The Assembly of First Nations called the meeting historic.

21 October
Quebec’s new cabinet unveiled at swearing-in ceremony today
St-Pierre Plamondon unveiled a cabinet of 23 ministers, which he noted was smaller than the previous CAQ government.
The new cabinet includes Nicolas Marceau, who will serve as Quebec’s finance minister for the second time, Chicoutimi MNA Marie‑Karlynn Laflamme as health minister and veteran MNA Joël Arseneau, who will take on the national education portfolio.
Other notable appointments are Marie-Claude Sarrazin, who was named minister of justice, and Pascal Bérubé who will serve as the province’s culture minister.
For the first time in provincial history, the lieutenant-governor will not preside over the ceremony at St-Pierre Plamondon’s request and will instead watch from her office.

20 October
Alberta referendum results show Canada does not work, says St-Pierre Plamondon
(The Edmonton Journal) Quebec premier-elect Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says Alberta’s referendum results demonstrate that Canada’s federal system is failing and that provinces need greater autonomy. Although about three-quarters of Albertans voted to remain in Canada, majorities supported eight of nine proposals for greater provincial powers, including over immigration and judicial appointments. St-Pierre Plamondon argued that Quebec and Alberta share concerns about federal interference and said his new Parti Québécois government would work with other provinces to push for change in Ottawa. He also praised Alberta’s referendum as a peaceful democratic exercise, arguing there is nothing to fear from holding a vote on sovereignty.

19 October
Milliard vows Quebec Liberals will oppose PQ independence referendum ‘in every way possible’
Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard says his party will co-operate with the incoming Parti Québécois minority government when its proposals benefit citizens, but will firmly oppose its plans for a third independence referendum. Speaking after Monday’s swearing-in ceremony, Milliard said the Liberals would not compromise their values, while MNA Marc Tanguay warned the PQ against spending public money preparing for a referendum. The Liberals…also celebrated their political comeback, although former Liberal leaders Jean Charest and Jean-Marc Fournier acknowledged the party still needs to rebuild support in several regions. Following the PQ’s lead, all 39 Liberal MNAs present swore their oath of office to the people of Quebec rather than King Charles III, an option made possible by legislation adopted in December 2022. Seventeen MNAs also delivered their oaths in both French and English, which Milliard described as a longstanding tradition and a sign of respect for anglophone communities. Milliard also named André Fortin parliamentary leader, Madwa-Nika Cadet party whip, Filomena Rotiroti caucus chair and Julie White deputy parliamentary leader. Québec solidaire MNAs are scheduled to be sworn in Tuesday, followed by the Conservatives on Thursday.
New government, lots of new faces: Get to know some of Quebec’s newest MNAs
(CBC) The Parti Québécois is bringing a mix of newcomers and experienced politicians into the National Assembly ahead of the government’s cabinet swearing-in. Among the new faces are Anne Nguyen, a Harvard graduate in business analytics expected to contribute to the government’s artificial intelligence strategy; immigration lawyer Stéphane Handfield; former Montreal International president and CEO Stéphane Paquet, one of only two PQ MNAs elected on the island of Montreal; and economist Dieudonné Ella Oyono, who has experience in economic development. Other newcomers include lawyer Marie-Claude Sarrazin, who defeated former CAQ finance minister Eric Girard, and former NDP MP Pierre Nantel. The new caucus also includes returning MNAs Alain Therrien, a former Bloc Québécois MP; Nicolas Marceau, Quebec’s finance minister from 2012 to 2014; and former Montreal city councillor Elsie Lefebvre. Several former municipal leaders have also entered provincial politics, including former Rouyn-Noranda mayor Diane Dallaire, former Sherbrooke mayor Bernard Sévigny, former Sainte-Marie-Salomé mayor Véronique Venne and former Amos mayor Sébastien D’Astous. Some could take on significant portfolios as Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon prepares to form his minority government on Wednesday.

17 October
Le beau problème de PSPP
The beautiful problem of PSPP
La Presse columnist Michel C. Auger says PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon faces the challenge of managing a talented but largely inexperienced caucus as he prepares to govern Quebec. Of the party’s 59 elected MNAs, 50 have no parliamentary experience, prompting the PQ to bring in political veterans, including former premier Pauline Marois, to help prepare them for their new roles. Auger says PSPP must find meaningful responsibilities for his members while striking a balance between advancing his sovereignist agenda and governing for all Quebecers, including those who did not vote for him. He questions the premier-designate’s growing focus on abolishing monarchical institutions, arguing that the issue is largely symbolic and would generate little financial benefit. With a sovereignty referendum promised after Donald Trump leaves office in 2029, Auger believes the government should concentrate on more pressing concerns in the meantime, particularly homelessness, which has spread beyond major cities and requires urgent action. He adds addressing the needs of Quebec’s most vulnerable citizens would be a far more meaningful first priority for the new PQ government than eliminating symbols of the monarchy.
Libman: Five doable suggestions for PSPP’s first 100 days
Here’s how the premier-designate can show he is genuine about his overtures to his “English-speaking friends in Quebec.”
…if PSPP would like to prove that he is genuine — “authentic,” as he often calls himself — and really wants to make friends in the English-speaking community, there are a few gestures he might consider. Short of scrapping much of Bill 96, which is not in the cards, here are my five realistic suggestions for his first 100 days. They start with walking back certain CAQ initiatives and in no way would weaken French language protections:
– Guarantee through Élections Québec that voter information and mailings will always be available in both of Canada’s official languages, a position he defended during the campaign anyway.
– Proactively drop the government’s appeal to the Supreme Court of Bill 40, the law replacing school boards with service centres.
– Rescind the dramatic tuition hikes for Montreal’s English universities
– Resurrect the Dawson College expansion project and new pavilion. Intended to house health programs including nursing and radiation oncology, and a clinic, it was suddenly scrapped by the CAQ saying French colleges were its priority before adding capacity to Dawson.
– …rethink his plan to prohibit access to English CEGEPs for non-“historic-anglos.” …

10 October
‘Don’t take anything for granted’ when it comes to Quebec’s appetite for a referendum
History shows the temperature can change swiftly when it comes to sovereignty, Pablo Rodriguez says.
(Montreal Gazette) … “That thing, the referendum, went from the project of a political party with limited means to the project and the mandate of the government of Quebec,” Rodriguez said, referring to the momentum of Quebec’s independence movement in the 1990s. “We almost lost a country in 1995.”
“I’m not sure we’re going to have a referendum, but don’t take anything for granted,” Rodriguez told hosts Bill Brownstein and Aaron Rand in this week’s episode of The Corner Booth.

6 October
‘The best of the worst’: Quebec anglo leaders react to PQ minority victory
By Aaron Derfel
The Parti Québécois’ minority victory brought a mix of anxiety and relief among Quebec’s English-speaking community, according to a watch party at TALQ’s office in Montreal. Members initially feared the PQ had won a majority, which would have cleared the way for its promised independence referendum, but the confirmed minority result eased those concerns. Sylvia Martin-Laforge said the group would take premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon at his word after he said he was willing to work with the English-speaking community. “We will reach out to the leaders of all the political parties so that they all have a better understanding of the concerns of the English-speaking community,” Martin-Laforge added.
Eastern Townships election results as PQ set to form minority government
The Parti Québécois won Richmond, Saint-François, Granby and Daniel-Johnson in Quebec’s Oct. 5 election, while Liberal Leader Charles Milliard captured Orford and Fred Beauchemin won Brome-Missisquoi as the PQ was projected to form a minority government.
Québec solidaire held Sherbrooke with Stéphanie Vachon’s victory, and Conservative Jimmy Gagnon won Mégantic. The Coalition Avenir Québec did not win any of those eight ridings.
‘ ‘Stop being a hostage to the Liberal party,’ Duhaime tells anglos as Conservatives break through
Vows to shrink government and block referendum after election-night triumph.
The Quebec Conservatives achieved their first major electoral breakthrough Monday, electing 19 MNAs, including leader Éric Duhaime, and positioning themselves as a potentially influential force in Paul St-Pierre Plamondon’s minority PQ government. Duhaime celebrated the result as a historic victory and said his party would work with the PQ on measures such as cutting bureaucracy, reducing taxes and shrinking government, but drew a firm line at supporting a sovereignty referendum. The Conservatives’…19 seats exceeded the party’s goal of 12 needed for official party status and expanded its reach beyond the Quebec City region into areas including the Eastern Townships. … With the PQ just short of a majority, the Conservatives could hold significant influence over legislation in the new minority legislature.