Quebec election, Sept. 27: Sovereignty isn’t a precedence however independence can be ‘viable,’ Legault says

Article content material

Up to date all through the day on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Questions/feedback: ariga@postmedia.com

Article content material

Article content material

Prime updates

Article content material

4 p.m.

Thanks for studying

That’s it for at the moment.

I’ll be again tomorrow morning with one other reside weblog.

Within the meantime, you possibly can learn our election protection at montrealgazette.com.

3:55 p.m.

Conservatives say one in every of their candidates coated up impolite graffiti about Legault

Article content material

3:50 p.m.

‘Contemptuous’ – Canadian Occasion lashes out on the Liberals

The Canadian Occasion of Quebec (CaPQ) is hitting again in opposition to the Liberals.

It says that in some native debates, some Montreal Liberal candidates have referred to the CaPQ as an “curiosity group” or a “one-issue protest occasion.”

“That is contemptuous of the democratic selections of Quebecers who need to categorical their basic rights,” CaPQ president Liz Campell stated in a press release.

“We didn’t inherit occasion equipment, branding or tax {dollars} to ascertain a celebration. Passionate Quebecers of French, Spanish and English-speaking backgrounds have pulled off the inconceivable: constructing a viable occasion in three months’ time with candidates throughout Quebec.”

Article content material

Mentioned CaPQ chief Colin Standish: “We’re assured we signify the pursuits of all Quebecers, from all linguistic teams, Indigenous and newcomer. We’re proud to have 20 candidates throughout Quebec.

“Whereas we’re vehemently against Payments 96, 21 and 40 which contact upon all features of personal and public life in Quebec, we’ve introduced main coverage on the economic system, the setting, and well being care.”

Standish additionally questioned Dominique Anglade’s rivalry that the Liberals are a federalist occasion.

“The Quebec Liberal Occasion shouldn’t be a federalist occasion, regardless of extensively held perceptions of this,” he stated. “They’ve fought to uncouple Quebec from the remainder of Canada, diminish federal energy.”

Standish stated the Liberals “don’t acknowledge the 1982 Structure nor the Canadian Constitution. The Liberals gave us two Constitutional accords which might have balkanized Canada, devolved federal powers, categorized Canadians into hierarchies, and inserted a ‘distinct society’ into the Structure.”

Article content material

3:20 p.m.

Opinion: Quebec election quiet on Indigenous training

“It’s tough to maintain significant partnerships over the long run, to make sure constructive efficient modifications by and for First Nations, when provincial insurance policies are quite “fragmented and short-lived” at greatest, or when the province doubles down on linguistic laws that contravenes the constitutional proper of First Nations to self-determination over training, tradition and language.”

Learn the total opinion piece, by Denis Gros-Louis, director basic of the First Nations Training Council, an affiliation representing 22 First Nations communities.

3 p.m.

PQ candidate has denounced hijabs, Islam prior to now: report

Article content material

2:50 p.m.

Canadian Occasion of Quebec desires identify of Estrie area modified again to Cantons-de-l’Est/Jap Townships

Article content material

2:30 p.m.

Opinion: Ranking the leaders as Quebec marketing campaign nears end line

François Legault has been uninspiring, testy and grumpy however is poised for an additional majority due to a voting system he had vowed to alter.

Dominique Anglade has had an excellent second half to the marketing campaign, maybe sufficient of a very good efficiency to permit individuals to overlook the errors of her Liberal Occasion throughout the first half.

The 2 younger separatist leaders, Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, have each been stable all through the marketing campaign, with the largest shock being the excellent efficiency of PSPP.

Éric Duhaime has pulled off an unimaginable political feat in resuscitating the defunct Conservative Occasion.

Learn Tom Mulcair’s full column.

Article content material

2 p.m.

‘Oui Madame!’ – Liberals publish advert taking part in off Legault remark

At a press convention on Day 1 of the election marketing campaign, Coalition Avenir Québec Chief François Legault trigger controversy by refusing to call Liberal Chief Dominique Anglade.

As an alternative, he known as her “cette madame,-là” which might be roughly translated as “this girl.”

Anglade, the one feminine chief of a significant Quebec occasion, at the moment revealed an advert that performs off the controversy.

Article content material

1:50 p.m.

Anglade rallies Quebecers to unite behind her as Liberals languish in polls

Within the wake of the most recent Léger ballot, which signifies help for the Quebec Liberal Occasion stays mired at 16 per cent and is even decrease for its chief, Dominique Anglade tried to rally Quebecers to unite behind her staff.

Learn our full story, by René Bruemmer.

1:50 p.m.

Conservative chief raises prospect of free public transit in Montreal

Montrealers might get free public transit if a proposed pilot challenge in Quebec Metropolis bears fruit, Conservative Occasion of Quebec Chief Éric Duhaime stated.

Duhaime outlined his plan to cancel the proposed $4-billion tramway challenge. As an alternative, he says he would supply free bus service to all Quebec Metropolis residents.

Article content material

Learn our full story, by Jason Magder.

1:45 p.m.

CAQ candidate apologizes after marketing campaign volunteer swipes 275 PQ pamphlets, replaces them with CAQ ones: report

Article content material

1:20 p.m.

CAQ might win 97 of the 125 seats within the Nationwide Meeting, projection website says

12:40 p.m.

A $6.5B mega-tunnel is Legault’s grudging precedence

From the Bloomberg information company:

François Legault, on the verge of a decisive re-election victory, will start his second time period with a significant problem: easy methods to ship a multibillion-dollar challenge that many citizens don’t need and that his authorities doesn’t intend to pay for completely by itself.

Legault’s occasion, the Coalition Avenir Quebec, has an enormous lead in polls over a divided opposition with lower than every week till the Oct. 3 election and the premier appears set to return to energy with a strengthened hand. Amongst his costliest guarantees is a $6.5 billion tunnel beneath the St. Lawrence River in Quebec Metropolis.

Article content material

The eight-kilometre tunnel can be a boon to engineering and building corporations and to drivers in a area that’s house to about 850,000 individuals. It could minimize commute instances by connecting the historic metropolis immediately with the suburb of Lévis.

However the challenge has additionally uncovered a few of Legault’s shortcomings as a politician, and he has caught sharp criticism from his opponents for preserving secret a number of research on the tunnel thought.

“What do you must conceal?” Eric Duhaime, chief of the right-wing Conservatives, badgered Legault on one in every of Quebec’s hottest speak exhibits Sunday night time. “Make the research public. Now we have the fitting to know, the taxpayers paid for them.”

Duhaime favours a bridge, which he says can be inexpensive however might mar the vistas of Ile d’Orleans, a scenic island.

Article content material

The CAQ has been polling round 40 per cent, with the resurgent Conservatives and Dominique Anglade’s Liberals combating it out for second place forward of left-wing rivals Quebec Solidaire and the separatist Parti Quebecois.

Seat projections by polling aggregator 338Canada present Legault successful 97 seats out of 125 subsequent week, with Duhaime doubtlessly shut out of the legislature regardless of his occasion’s surge in widespread help.

Legault, 65, has already been pressured to backtrack as soon as. Till April, the federal government was leaning towards a tunnel practically 20 meters vast – greater than double the width of Norway’s well-known Laerdal Tunnel – and carrying six lanes of site visitors.

That ambition was too unwieldy and so was the estimated price ticket of $10 billion. The brand new proposal envisions two smaller tunnels side-by-side, every with two lanes of site visitors.

Article content material

Bruno Massicotte, professor of engineering at Polytechnique Montreal, did a technical examine in 2016 for a possible tunnel within the area.

The challenge would have confronted important challenges akin to sandy soil, he discovered.

The $6.5 billion price ticket on the most recent model may once more be understated, he stated in an interview.

“It appears weak to me,” stated Massicotte. “I do not know how this quantity was calculated.” A smaller tunnel devoted solely to public rail transportation might value 8 to 10 instances much less, he added.

Legault argues that modifications to the scope of the challenge make earlier research irrelevant, and he concedes the ultimate choice on the challenge will probably be a “political” one, anyway. The Quebec Metropolis area is one in every of his occasion’s strongholds: it gained 8 of 11 seats there within the final election.

Article content material

“We’d like a hyperlink and we suggest a tunnel,” the premier has repeated on the marketing campaign path. At instances, he has appeared annoyed with criticism of the challenge’s value and the method. He even accused Montrealers of “wanting down” on the residents of Quebec Metropolis and Levis.

However Legault’s principal problem may not be political however monetary – as a result of his different promise is that taxpayers outdoors the province will assist shoulder the fee.

His proposal is for 40 per cent of the cash to come back from the federal authorities. And whereas no challenge has but been formally submitted, the thought has acquired a cool reception in Ottawa.

12:20 p.m.

Right here’s when you possibly can vote

Quebecers have a number of extra probabilities to vote.

They will solid ballots on the places of work of returning officers on as of late:

Article content material

On the above dates, college students may vote at polling stations arrange on campuses throughout the province.

The final likelihood to vote comes on Monday, Oct. 3, election day, when polls will probably be open from 9:30 a.m. to eight p.m.

For extra on easy methods to vote, go to this web page on the Elections Quebec website.

To examine in case you’re on the electoral listing, click on right here.

Midday

Legault cruising to victory, with different leaders combating for second: ballot

With lower than every week to go within the election marketing campaign, a brand new ballot suggests François Legault will simply win a decisive second mandate for his Coalition Avenir Québec authorities.

Nonetheless up within the air: Who would be the chief of the official opposition?

Article content material

The second and last televised debate did little to alter opinions, in line with the survey, performed Sep. 23-25 by Léger for Québecor media retailers.

The CAQ is manner forward, at 37 per cent (down one proportion level, in comparison with every week earlier).

The opposite events are statistically tied for second:

The ballot discovered francophones, who make up the vast majority of voters in most Quebec ridings, are nonetheless staying away from Liberals. Solely seven per stated they’d help the occasion, by far the worst rating.

The Liberals have misplaced important help amongst non-francophones as nicely.

Article content material

Amongst these voters, 46 per cent backed the Liberals, with 18 per cent supporting the Conservatives, 16 per cent the CAQ, 15 per cent Québec solidaire and 7 per cent the PQ.

Solely two per cent would vote for an additional occasion. However that’s throughout the province. Any help for 2 new events – Bloc Montréal and the Canadian Occasion of Quebec – can be in a couple of ridings with giant anglophone and allophone populations.

Article content material

Léger additionally requested respondents who would make the most effective opposition chief.

The highest selections have been QS Chief Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois (27 per cent) and PQ Chief Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (25 per cent), with Liberal Chief Dominique Anglade and Conservative Chief Éric Duhaime far behind.

The ballot contained excellent news for the PQ, suggesting it’s the favorite second selection amongst voters. Respondents additionally stated St-Pierre Plamondon is having the most effective marketing campaign and gained the second debate by a large margin.

You may learn the total ballot outcomes right here.

11:40 a.m.

Like Duhaime, Nadeau-Dubois desires Legault to launch ‘secret’ tunnel examine

Article content material

Article content material

11:15 a.m.

Duhaime accuses Legault of ‘mendacity’ about Quebec Metropolis-Lévis tunnel examine

Éric Duhaime says François Legault isn’t telling the reality when he talks in regards to the $6.5-billion tunnel he desires to construct between Quebec Metropolis and Lévis.

“I don’t need to qualify him as a liar however the proof exhibits he lied,” the Conservative chief advised a press convention in Quebec Metropolis this morning.

“He didn’t inform the reality. He stated the alternative of the reality.”

Duhaime stated Legault, chief of the Coalition Avenir Québec, “has to come back clear earlier than the election… We’re telling Mr. Legault that he can’t lie like that ceaselessly.”

He was referring to a Radio-Canada report revealed this morning.

Quoting two unnamed sources, the community reported that Legault’s CAQ authorities does certainly have a examine in hand a couple of tunnel that connects downtown Quebec Metropolis with downtown Lévis.

Article content material

Legault has stated that the federal government doesn’t have such a downtown-to-downtown examine. He’s proposing a $6.5 billion Quebec Metropolis-Lévis tunnel.

The examine Radio-Canada reported on targeted on a tunnel with six lanes. Legault has downsized his plan to 4 lanes.

Duhaime stated he suspects the examine exhibits Legault’s tunnel shouldn’t be possible.

The Conservative chief favours a bridge by way of Île-d’Orléans that may value $3 billion.

Duhaime stated Legault’s tunnel can be the costliest challenge ever undertaken in Quebec Metropolis and the influence can be felt for many years.

He stated Quebec Metropolis residents ought to given all the data obtainable earlier than the Oct. 3 election.

Watch the press convention:

Article content material

10:55 a.m.

‘Transportation revolution’: QS would make investments $50M in automotive sharing throughout Quebec

As he introduced a $50-million dedication to fund a car-sharing program throughout the province if his occasion wins the election, Québec solidaire Chief Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois additionally welcomed information that his occasion has nudged forward of the Parti Québécois and the Liberals to second place in a latest ballot.

Learn our full report, by Michelle Lalonde.

10:30 a.m.

Sovereignty isn’t a precedence however independence can be ‘viable,’ Legault says

François Legault says Quebec independence can be “viable.”

At a press convention this morning, a reporter requested the Coalition Avenir Québec chief if a sovereign Quebec can be viable.

“Sure, I believe it’s viable, it’s a query of priorities,” Legault responded. “I believe it’s actually not the principal concern of Quebecers in the intervening time.”

Article content material

He added: “There can be an enormous problem financially, clearly, once you have a look at the extent of (federal) switch funds that we obtain in the intervening time. However I believe Quebec can be viable.”

A reporter requested why would it not be viable.

In response, Legault stated “Quebec has a stage of wealth – once you examine us to the typical of nations on this planet – that’s comparatively excessive, even when we sadly nonetheless have a wealth hole with Ontario that we’re within the technique of eliminating.’

A former minister with the separatist Parti Québécois, Legault has stated he wouldn’t maintain a referendum on sovereignty. Throughout final week’s debate, Legault wouldn’t reply when repeatedly requested how he would vote in a sovereignty referendum.

Many Quebec sovereignists voted for the CAQ in 2018.

Article content material

With one other ballot suggesting he’ll coast to a second mandate on Oct. 3, Legault took a softer tone towards a few of his opponents at his press convention.

He stated he can be a “unifier” as premier, speaking to opposition events frequently about easy methods to enhance Quebec.

“I see my position as premier to convey individuals collectively, to work with the opposition,” Legault stated. “There have some concepts on the setting, on defending French.”

He stated the Liberals, Québec solidaire and the Parti Québecois have good concepts on easy methods to cut back greenhouse gases, although their general plans are unrealistic.

“I’m open to discussions,” he stated.

A reporter reminded Legault that in his first mandate, opposition events frequently described him as smug.”

“I don’t assume Quebecers see me as smug,” he responded. “In actuality, I’m somebody who listens.”

He stated the COVID-19 pandemic made him “extra humble.”

Amid the marketing campaign, opposition events have hammered Legault, suggesting he’s divisive on points akin to immigration, language and Indigenous points.

10:20 a.m.

23% of Quebec voters solid ballots prematurely polls, Elections Quebec says

Virtually one-quarter of Quebec voters have already solid ballots.

As of this morning, 22.9 per cent of eligible voters have visited polling stations, Elections Quebec stated.

That’s about 1.4 million voters.

In 2018, just below 18 per cent of voters took benefit of advance polls for a complete of 1.1 million individuals.

The best turnouts have been within the Quebec Metropolis area the place there are a number of three-way races between the Coalition Avenir Québec, Québec solidaire and the Conservatives.

Yesterday, Conservative Chief Éric Duhaime stated the excessive turnout prematurely polls is an indication that Quebecers need change.

10 a.m.

CAQ accuses PQ of stealing pamphlets from mailboxes: report

Yesterday, a Québec solidaire candidate withdrew from the election after she was caught taking a Parti Québécois pamphlet out of a mailbox and changing it together with her personal.

At this time, TVA is reporting {that a} Coalition Avenir Québec candidate has accused the PQ of taking 275 CAQ flyers out of mailboxes in Mascouche.

9:15 a.m.

Time to return to the fold, PQ tells sovereignists

Many sovereignists who’re lifelong supporters of the Parti Québécois voted for François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec in 2018, whereas others have shifted to the pro-sovereignty Québec solidaire.

Struggling within the polls, the PQ is urging anybody who desires Quebec to turn into a rustic to return to the PQ fold on Oct. 3.

9 a.m.

Voters should use pencils on ballots, Elections Quebec says

With some social media customers spreading conspiracies about the usage of pencils on ballots, Elections Quebec is reminding voters that ballots marked with pens will probably be rejected.

Right here’s what the provincial company says about the usage of pencils:

Whenever you vote, the election officers give you a selected pencil, permitted by Elections Quebec. This pencil has been repeatedly examined and chosen for its efficiency and since it’s significantly nicely suited to the poll paper. Elections Quebec makes use of this pencil to keep away from rejections and to protect the secrecy of the vote.

Because you place your personal poll within the poll field and the field is sealed and monitored always, nobody can change the mark you’ve got made.

Lead pencil marks are usually not altered by water. Because of this they continue to be intact if the ballots by chance get moist (e.g., within the occasion of water injury), regardless of all of the precautions we take.

8:45 a.m.

Battle for second place tightens as CAQ headed towards majority: ballot

Regardless of a unbroken erosion of its lead in reputation, François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec stays headed for a majority authorities within the Oct. 3 basic election.

In the meantime, the combat for second place — and the position of official opposition — turns into much more intense, a brand new ballot suggests.

Learn our full story.

8:45 a.m.

Duhaime flirting with official occasion standing amid ‘distortion of the vote’

Éric Duhaime stated his occasion might be within the awkward place on Oct. 3 of getting the second-most votes, however no seats within the Nationwide Meeting.

Learn our full story, by Jason Magder.

8:45 a.m.

Québec solidaire candidate pulls out of race after being caught swiping PQ flyer from mailbox

The Québec solidaire candidate for the Camille-Laurin driving in east-end Montreal has resigned from the race after a video was posted on social media that seems to point out her eradicating a Parti Québécois flyer from a resident’s mailbox.

Learn our full story, by Michlelle Lalonde.

8:30 a.m.

What are the 5 main events participating in Quebec’s provincial election?

Right here’s a have a look at the 5 events vying to type Quebec’s subsequent authorities.

Learn our full story.

8:30 a.m.

Election Information: What it is advisable to know in regards to the marketing campaign and voting

How do you examine in case you’re on the electoral listing? Are you allowed to vote? When can ballots be solid?

Learn our full story.

8:30 a.m.

Join our free Quebec election e-newsletter

Comply with all of the motion alongside Quebec’s 2022 provincial election marketing campaign path with protection and evaluation from the consultants on the Montreal Gazette.

Delivered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.

You may enroll right here.

ariga@postmedia.com

Learn my earlier reside blogs right here.