The Parti Québécois (PQ) kicked off Day 16 of the Quebec election campaign by estimating that a sovereignty referendum would cost at least $130 million. Meanwhile, Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette insisted her “personal position is not important” when asked about independence. Key details: Follow along for the latest updates: Quebec Solidaire projects nearly $10.5 billion in spending over 4 years It was Quebec Solidaire’s (QS) turn to unveil its fiscal plan. The left-wing party estimates its spending promises at nearly $10.5 billion over four years and plans to fund them largely through its proposed tax on the ultra-wealthy. QS spokesperson Ruba Ghazal stated on Friday that the party is taking a different path from its four other rivals, who are promising to reduce the size of government. “What we are presenting to you this afternoon is proof that we can make different choices for Quebec. (...) We can give ourselves the means to achieve our ambitions to counter austerity and halt the decline of our public services,” she said in a news release. QS estimates it can generate nearly $10.5 billion in new revenue by 2030–2031. Of this amount, $5 billion would come from the introduction of a one per cent tax on fortunes valued at $25 million or more and a two per cent tax on those exceeding $100 million. The party also proposes increasing certain taxes, such as the corporate income tax on large companies and the taxation of capital gains for large corporations. Under a Solidarity government, a balanced budget would be achieved in 2029–2030. QS presented its fiscal framework after those of the Coalition Avenir Québec and the Quebec Conservative Party. The announcement comes a few days before the first leaders’ debate, scheduled for Tuesday on TVA. --The Canadian Press Milliard defends candidate Farnell Morisset Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leader Charles Milliard, who was visiting Montreal’s South Shore on Friday to announce a series of measures for seniors, had to defend his candidate Farnell Morisset, who is in hot water over an election donation scandal. Milliard stated during a press briefing in Châteauguay that he “has confidence in Farnell Morisset, in his integrity, honesty, transparency, and desire to serve Quebecers.” The PLQ leader came to the defence of his Taschereau riding candidate following the publication of an article by La Presse on Friday morning claiming that Morisset “appears to have made two illegal donations to his party in 2022 and 2023.” La Presse reports that while he was living and working in New York, Morisset allegedly declared a Quebec address for these two donations. However, Quebec election law stipulates that only a resident who has lived in Quebec for the past six months may make such contributions. “When I lived in New York, I still had very strong ties to Quebec,” and “my residence was still in Quebec, just like a student living abroad,” the Liberal candidate argued. Milliard stated Friday morning that he had a “legal interpretation” of the situation that goes “in the completely opposite direction” from “the legal interpretation presented in La Presse.” After consulting with his party, the QLP leader indicated that “there is absolutely no problem on that front. Zero, zero!” -- The Canadian Press. Duhaime defends a candidate again Conservative Party Leader Éric Duhaime is defending his candidate in Mégantic, Jimmy Gagnon, after Le Journal de Montréal reported on a 2024 Superior Court ruling that found he destroyed equipment at a maple syrup farm belonging to his aged neighbours. It states that he also lied during his testimony. “He cut the water and electricity lines before ripping out the pipes attached to the trees to replace them with his own equipment,” the Superior Court ruling noted. “He blocked the path in several places with a chain, a cable or his pipes.” - The Canadian Press. Fréchette calls herself an ‘autonomist’ After refusing to reveal if she is a sovereignist or federalist, Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette has decided to choose the label “autonomist.” She also stated that her political party includes supporters from both camps. Friday, the party unveiled a pledge to increase the Hearing Aid Program for people with hearing impairments from one hearing aid per person to two, at a cost of $40 million per year. - The Canadian Press. Liberals promise additional $700M for in-home care Charles Milliard says his party plans to increase funding for in-home care by $700 million to expand services provided to people directly at home. He is also pledging an additional $80 million over four years for home modifications and expanding the Financial Exemption Program for Domestic Help Services (PEFSAD). The Liberal leader also promised to allocate an additional $200 million over four years to fund community organizations. - The Canadian Press. Fréchette accuses PQ of lacking transparency Christine Fréchette is accusing the Parti Québécois of a lack of transparency for failing to disclose its financial plan for the first year of a potentially sovereign Quebec. The Parti Québécois told The Canadian Press it has set aside $130 million in its budget for the referendum it plans to hold in 2029 or 2030 if it comes to power. According to Fréchette, the pro-sovereignty party should go further by disclosing the budget for its first year of independence. - The Canadian Press. PCQ wants to ‘deregulate’ construction industry The Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ) says it wants to increase the housing supply in Quebec by “deregulating” the construction industry, including reducing the number of regulated trades and “simplifying” the Quebec Building Code. As part of this “liberalization,” the PCQ says it wants full labour mobility and plans to rezone agricultural land to “reflect today’s reality and needs” and review all housing assistance programs “to consolidate them and make support for low-income tenants more effective.” - The Canadian Press. $130M for a sovereignty referendum The leader of the Parti Québecois (PQ) says it would cost at least $130 million to pay for the sovereignty referendum he plans to hold in 2029 or 2030 if his party forms a government. The figure is expected to be included in the financial framework he plans to make public in the coming week. The referendum budget includes $20 million for studies and consultations in the first years of a PQ government mandate. - The Canadian Press. Day 16 Here is where the party leaders are planning to start their day, in order of first appearance: Éric Duhaime (Quebec Conservative Party) Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime is set to start his day at 8:30 a.m. with a press conference and tour at the Fleur-de-Lys construction site. He will then travel to Lac-Mégantic to hold a press briefing at the Granit Hospital at 12:45 p.m. before visiting the Mégantic Sports Centre at 1:25 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., he will hold another press briefing at the Manoir d’Orsennens. Christine Fréchette (Coalition Avenir Québec) CAQ Leader Christine Fréchette is expected to hold a press conference at the Domaine du Cap at 9 a.m. in La Baie. She will then head to Quebec City for another press conference at 1 p.m. at the Domaine de Maizerets. Charles Milliard (Quebec Liberal Party) Liberal Leader Charles Milliard is set to spend the day in the Montérégie region, beginning with an announcement about seniors at 9:15 a.m. at the Centre 55+ for seniors in Châteauguay. He will then have lunch at the Taverne de la Ferme at noon in Ormstown before stopping by Vergers Petch Orchards in Hemmingford at 1:35 p.m. and the Defland vegetable farm in Napierville at 2:30 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., he will head to the Richmond Expo in Cleveland. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (Parti Québécois) PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is slated to be in Greater Montreal, holding a press briefing on gas prices at 11 a.m. at Parc St-Mark in Longueuil with candidates Nicolas Marceau (Marie-Victorin), Alain Therrien (Sanguinet) and Sandra Hernandez (Taillon). He is then scheduled to take a walk along the Saint-Charles pedestrian street at noon. In the afternoon, he will meet with Cree Grand Chief John Paul Murdoch at 2 p.m. at an undisclosed location before participating in a debate at the Saint-Donat Community Recreation Centre at 6:30 p.m. in the Camille-Laurin riding in Montreal. Ruba Ghazal (Québec Solidaire) QS Spokesperson Ruba Ghazal is expected to be in Montreal. At 1:15 p.m., she will present the party’s financial framework at the Esplanade Tranquille before meeting with the Montreal Transport Union (CSN) at Papineau station at 3 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., she will visit the Verdun campaign office and hand out flyers with Verdun candidate Alejandra Zaga Mendez on Wellington Street. The leaders
