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: $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
