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Parties talk taxes, trade war and parental leave on Day 2 of Quebec election campaign

  • Morgan Lowrie

  • Canadian Press

  • August 28, 2026

Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon speaks during an election campaign stop outside the site of the cancelled Northvolt plant in McMasterville, Que., on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. Quebecers will vote in a provincial election on Oct. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL -- Taxes, parental leave and the U.S. trade war are taking centre stage during the first full day of campaigning on the Quebec election trail.

Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is promising to reduce taxes for Quebec businesses by 20 per cent in his first term as premier if his party wins the Oct. 5 election.

St-Pierre Plamondon made his announcement at the site of the cancelled Northvolt electric battery plant, to highlight what he described as the failures of the Coalition Avenir Quebec government to boost the economy through intervention.

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Millard focused on the ongoing trade war, and pledged to reduce the share of Quebec exports going to the United States by at least 15 per cent by diversifying its markets.

Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Christine Frechette, meanwhile, is promising to boost the Quebec parental insurance plan to offer an additional two weeks of leave for fathers as well as more flexibility and bereavement leave.

Quebec solidaire is expanding on a promise to open a network of 15 public grocery stores, while the Conservatives are promising what they call a historic tax cut.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2026.