Quebec party leaders focus on transport and health ahead of debate

Quebec party leaders highlighted transport, public safety and health care on Saturday as they prepared for the first televised debate of the provincial election campaign in Montreal next week. Parti Québécois leader Paul StPierre Plamondon said his party would spend $550 million over four years on prevention, including physical activity and mental health supports, and would work to reduce overprescribing of medication. He also repeated his plan to abolish Santé Québec, the province’s health agency. Liberal leader Charles Milliard said his party would devote 5 per cent of the healthcare budget over 10 years to prevention programs such as vaccination, cancer screening and chronic disease prevention. Québec Solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal proposed free public transit for people under 25 and over 65, while Conservative leader Eric Duhaime criticized the Quebec City tramway project and backed the proposed thirdlink bridge. CAQ leader Christine Fréchette said her party would spend $196 million to hire more police officers and prosecutors.