Christine Fréchette says Quebecers are becoming more open to fracking

Coalition Avenir Québec leader Christine Fréchette said Saturday that public attitudes in Quebec may be softening toward fracking, citing trade tensions with the United States as part of the backdrop. The issue came up during the Quebec election campaign, where the Quebec Conservatives have argued fossil fuel development could help the economy. Fréchette was responding to a La Presse report that said Quebecers remain divided on the question, even if support appears stronger when fracking is framed as a way to reduce reliance on American markets. The CAQ banned shale gas exploration and production in 2022 under François Legault, but Fréchette said during her leadership run this spring that she was open to revisiting the issue. She added that any future move would still require social acceptance.