Young CAQ members say they want a “prominent place” at the decision-making table. They’re asking leadership candidates Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville to give them “at least 25” ridings in the October election. The president of the Coalition Avenir Québec’s Next Generation Commission (CRCAQ), William Denis, shared his expectations in an open letter published on social media on Friday morning. He states that young CAQ members (500 out of 15,000 members) want to be involved in “the party’s major policy directions and the development of the election platform.” Denis is calling on the next CAQ leader to “present at least 25 young candidates in the October election, including in ridings won by the CAQ” in 2022. In that year, the CAQ presented 12 candidates aged 30 and under. All of them were defeated. First meeting between Fréchette and Drainville Fréchette and Drainville will have the opportunity to court young people this Saturday, when they’ll participate in a “virtual meeting” organized by the CRCAQ. They’ll be questioned on three topics: the standard of living of young people, identity, and party unity. This is not a debate per se, but rather a period of discussion with young people, moderated by political analyst Dimitri Soudas. In an interview on Friday, Denis said he believes this first meeting between the candidates will set the tone and clarify certain issues. “We’re thinking about the cost of living, inflation, technological developments, climate change—in short, the modern challenges that our generation will face,” he said. “We want to hear from the candidates about how they plan to navigate this transition so that we can, for example, enjoy the same standard of living as previous generations.” Denis was careful not to criticize the CAQ’s record or the deficits it has created, even though he deplores “the critical state of our public finances and infrastructure” in his letter. “The CAQ has come a long way. (...) We believe we must not give up,” he stated. He said young CAQ members are “aware of the significance of the moment,” as this is the very first leadership race in the CAQ, and that they want to ensure they make an “informed decision.” After all, the person chosen will quickly have to take up the “challenge” of the election campaign, he said. The referendum doesn’t ‘concern’ the CAQ According to the most recent Pallas-Data-Qc125-L’Actualité poll, the CAQ is currently in fourth place, behind the Parti Québécois, the Liberal Party, and the Conservative Party. Incidentally, Denis said he doesn’t believe that CAQ leadership candidates should loudly proclaim how they would vote in a possible future referendum on sovereignty. Last Wednesday, Liberal leader Charles Milliard challenged Fréchette, Drainville, and Conservative leader Éric Duhaime to show their colours, in full transparency for voters. However, according to Denis, it is not “necessary for them to take a position. (...) This is not an issue that concerns our members,” he said. Two more debates are scheduled, on March 21 in Quebec City and March 28 in Laval, before the election of the new CAQ leader on April 12. - This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 27, 2026.
