Quebec votes Monday with five parties poised to win seats for first time in 50 years

Quebecers head to the ballot box Monday, October 5, in a provincial election that could reshape the province's political landscape. The Parti Québécois leads most polls, positioning Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to return the sovereigntist party to power for the first time since Pauline Marois's minority government dissolved in 2014.

The race is unusually crowded. Five major provincial parties are competitive enough to elect members to the National Assembly—a threshold not reached in half a century. Political analyst Daniel Tran said whether Quebec gets a majority or minority government will depend on the performance of the Conservative Party of Quebec.

St-Pierre Plamondon campaigned in the Montreal region on the final campaign day, though the PQ has historically struggled here. If elected, his stated priorities include allocating a special budget for homelessness, cutting red tape, abolishing taxes on used goods, lowering gas tax, and reinvesting in community organizations and food banks. The PQ has promised to hold a sovereignty referendum before the end of its first term, though St-Pierre Plamondon said he would wait until Donald Trump leaves the White House before calling a vote.

The Coalition Avenir Québec, which has governed for eight straight years, has dropped in recent polls. Leader Christine Fréchette says the CAQ offers an alternative focused on nationalism and economic growth within Canada. The Liberals, led by Charles Milliard, are pitching themselves as the only federalist option and urging voters opposed to a PQ government to vote strategically for their candidates.

Voter priorities vary widely—some cite affordable groceries and the housing crisis, others environment and education, and some international concerns including U.S. actions. "Even if the person you vote for only gets 5 votes, it's one of the most important rights we have as a democratic society," Milliard said.