Conservative Party of Quebec Gains Momentum Ahead of Fall Elections, Targets Plamondon
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The Conservative party of Quebec (PCQ) is accelerating its preparations for the upcoming general elections this fall, positioning itself as a serious contender despite current polling favoring the Parti Québécois (PQ) led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. The party unveiled ten new candidates on Sunday, bringing the total number of announced candidates to fifteen. Notably, all ten newly announced candidates have previously sought office in 2022, indicating a robust campaign infrastructure.they expressed confidence that this time, they will overcome skepticism and achieve electoral success. These additions complement previously announced candidates including Jonathan Poulin (Beauce-Sud), Eliot Estévez-Verville (Taschereau), and Marie-Josée Hélie (montmorency), alongside Catherine Morissette, who will again contest the Chicoutimi riding regardless of the outcome of the February 23rd by-election.
Party leader Éric Duhaime and Karim Elayoubi,president of the party’s political committee,are also confirmed to be running,though their specific electoral districts have yet to be announced. Morissette temporarily paused her Chicoutimi campaign to attend the PCQ congress this weekend,demonstrating the party’s unified front.
Duhaime, who ran in Chauveau in 2022 and Arthabaska in a recent by-election, indicated his 2026 campaign will be based in the greater Quebec region, with a growing preference for rural constituencies. Elayoubi’s electoral plans are elaborate by a potential shift in constituency boundaries due to a new electoral map currently being challenged in the Supreme Court of Canada; Marie-France Lemay will now represent the PCQ in Argenteuil, having previously run in Rosemont.
Duhaime Accuses Plamondon of Being out of Touch
Following the candidate announcements,Duhaime delivered a pointed speech identifying Paul St-Pierre Plamondon as his primary opponent in the next election. He sharply criticized Plamondon, accusing him of “arrogance” and a “lack of humility.” “They are waiting until October 5 to take office. Don’t you think that’s a bit arrogant? Don’t you think that lacks humility?” duhaime asked his supporters. He further likened Plamondon to prematurely celebrating victory, stating, “Mr.Plamondon is the guy who is organizing the Stanley Cup parade on Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal, and he doesn’t even have the club to make the playoffs.”
Duhaime also attacked Plamondon’s commitment to a third referendum on quebec independence, arguing that it demonstrates a disconnect from the concerns of everyday Quebecers. “Your referendum obsession is blinding you,” he asserted, adding that Plamondon is “out of touch with Quebecers.”
A Harder Line on Law and Order
The PCQ congress also saw a push for tougher stances on justice and public safety.Former senator Pierre Hugues Boisvenu, founder of the Association of Families of Assassinated or Disappeared Persons (AFPAD), participated via videoconference to advocate for a series of proposals. These proposals, adopted by party delegates, aim to strengthen the provincial prison system, bolster support for law enforcement against white-collar crime, and establish a public online registry for serious and repeat sex offenders, including their residential locations.
Additional measures include strengthening the Quebec Charter of Victims’ Rights and ensuring adequate funding for the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Public Security, the Sûreté du Québec, and accelerating the judicial process. Delegates also voted to repeal the municipal real estate transfer tax – often called the “Welcome tax” – on homes valued at $500,000 or more. To further assert Quebec’s autonomy, the party supports legislation allowing the province to refuse or limit the application of federal measures deemed to infringe upon its jurisdiction.
The weekend conference,held in Lac-Delage,north of Quebec City,drew several hundred activists and focused on refining the party’s political platform.The presence of former minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina, who advocated for regional progress and a decentralized immigration policy, also garnered attention. While she engaged in discussions with Duhaime, she has not yet committed to running in the next election, citing remaining considerations.
