Quebec opposition parties open to road tolls but wants conditions attached

The leader of the Quebec Conservative Party, Éric Duhaime, is not opposed to the ‘user pays’ principle, but he wants to review government spending before reaching into taxpayers’ pockets. In this photo, Duhaime answers questions from journalists at the Quebec National Assembly on Wednesday Feb. 11, 2026. MNA Maité Blanchette Vézina (right) watches the scene. (The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

Opposition parties say they’re open to installing toll booths on Quebec roads, something the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government says it is considering.

All the same, the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) and Éric Duhaime’s Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) insist certain conditions must be met before moving forward.

New Premier Christine Fréchette says her government is studying the possibility of introducing tolls to help pay for the accumulated road maintenance deficit, estimated at more than $24 billion.

“We’re not against the user-pay principle,” Duhaime said at a news conference Thursday morning at the National Assembly.

“I think we need to look at expenses before looking at other sources of revenue,” added PCQ MNA Maïté Blanchette Vézina, standing beside him. “It costs more to carry out work in Quebec. So, actions need to be taken on spending before thinking about new revenue sources.”

Quebec Liberals open to it

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard also said Thursday morning that the toll option needs to be considered.

“For new projects, we will need to be open to that,” he suggested, noting the pressure on public finances and the constraints that could come with it.

“Collectively, we aren’t going to perform financial magic in Quebec. No party will be able to perform financial magic.”

Milliard added that if tolls are implemented, there will need to be alternative, free options for road users.

On Monday, in her first news conference as the head of the government, Fréchette said the introduction of tolls should be assessed.

“I’m not closing the door outright. Will there be tolls across Quebec? No. But it’s a model we may need to consider. I’ll look at the proposals,” she said.

On Wednesday, Transport Minister Jonatan Julien went further, saying tolls are the “right approach” to address the road maintenance deficit in Quebec.

He noted that the government is struggling to maintain the 30,000 kilometres of roads it is responsible for.

According to official Quebec government data, 56 per cent of roads are in good condition, while 13 per cent are in poor condition and 31 per cent are in very poor condition.

The 2026–2036 Quebec Infrastructure Plan (PQI) allocates $35.7 billion to the road network, divided as follows: 88 per cent ($31.6 billion) for asset maintenance — repairs and upkeep — and 12 per cent ($4.1 billion) for “enhancements,” meaning new infrastructure.

The asset maintenance deficit has grown significantly since the Coalition Avenir Québec came to power in 2018.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 16, 2026.