LIVE UPDATES: Quebec leaders' final debate before election

Five leaders will take the stage for one final debate before voters head to the polls on October 5, and Rebel News is on the ground covering it live.

Alexandra Lavoie
  |   September 23, 2026   |   News   |   Be the first to comment

 

Article by Rebel News staff.

Tonight, Radio-Canada hosts the final leaders' debate of the 2026 Quebec provincial election campaign before voters head to the polls on October 5.

The five party leaders on stage will be: 

  • Christine Fréchette of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), the incumbent government's new leader who took over from François Legault earlier this year; 
  • Paul St-Pierre Plamondon of the Parti Québécois (PQ), who has led his party to a polling lead throughout much of the campaign;
  • Charles Milliard of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), running second or third depending on the poll;
  • Ruba Ghazal of Québec solidaire (QS); and
  • Éric Duhaime of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), who is hoping to break through in the Quebec City region and win meaningful National Assembly representation.

The race has tightened considerably since the campaign launched on August 27. The PQ under Plamondon leads among decided voters at around 28%, with the CAQ under Fréchette closing ground at as high as 27%, and the Liberals sitting at roughly 21%.

Fréchette has reframed the CAQ's pitch around economic pragmatism, naming the Trump administration's tariffs as the party's "real adversary" — a positioning that has resonated with voters and produced one of the fastest polling recoveries in recent Quebec political history. 

The Conservative Party holds around 14%, with particular strength in the Quebec City region, while Québec solidaire sits at roughly 10%.

Notably, there will be no English-language debate this election.

Rebel News' Alexa Lavoie is on scene, providing live updates as the debate happens. Follow along directly on X or below on this page.

Alexandra Lavoie

Quebec based Journalist

Alexa graduated with a degree in biology from Laval University. Throughout her many travels, she has seen political instability as well as corruption. While she witnessed social disorder on a daily basis, she has always been a defender of society’s most vulnerable. She’s been around the world several times, and now joins Rebel News to shed light on today’s biggest stories.

Featured Stories

COMMENTS

Be the first to comment

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.