Five takeaways from Quebec’s final election debate

Quebec’s five main party leaders faced off in their third and final election debate on Wednesday evening, hosted by RadioCanada in front of a lively crowd of supporters and protesters. The debate focused on several major campaign issues, including Quebec sovereignty, health care, and the province’s fragmented political race ahead of the Oct. 5 vote. One of the sharpest exchanges came later in the debate, when Parti Québécois Leader Paul StPierre Plamondon defended his plan to delay a sovereignty referendum until after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office. Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard pressed him on whether that delay suggested a referendum could weaken the province. Québec solidaire cospokesperson Ruba Ghazal also discussed her party’s approach to sovereignty, while Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette and Quebec Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime said Quebecers are not interested in a referendum. Health care was another major flashpoint. Fréchette faced criticism over long hospital wait times and earlier promises to reduce emergency room delays and ensure access to family doctors. She said her government had made progress, pointing to more surgeries and more Quebecers being registered with family doctor groups. The debate also touched on a baby found at a homeless encampment in east Montreal, which has drawn attention to homelessness and affordability in the campaign. With five leaders on stage and the race still tight, the discussion often became crowded, limiting the space for any one candidate to dominate the exchange.