Quebec's second election debate centers on PQ's referendum plan as Fréchette goes on attack

Christine Fréchette made the Parti Québécois's referendum plans the centrepiece of her attack at Quebec's second election debate Wednesday night, shifting focus from her own party's record to the sovereignty question that has shadowed the campaign.

Fréchette spent much of the first debate on the defensive, criticized by rivals over the Coalition Avenir Québec's eight years in office. This time, she seized the offensive. "Are we really ready for the uncertainty of Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon's referendum?" Fréchette said in her opening statement. "It's not change, it's a return to a Quebec stuck in a referendum debate. We need to move forward." In head-to-head exchanges, she pressed St-Pierre Plamondon directly: "A referendum would destabilize Quebec."

St-Pierre Plamondon's PQ has said it would hold a referendum on independence once U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office. The CAQ, Liberals, and Conservatives all said they would not hold a separation referendum. Fréchette has repeatedly declined to say how she would vote if a referendum took place.

The debate, hosted by Michel Bherer and broadcast on Crave and Noovo in French, explored five themes: cost of living and U.S. tariffs, finances and the state of schools and hospitals, the future for Quebec's children including social media and anxiety, health and homelessness, and the protection of the French language.

Liberal leader Charles Milliard criticized the CAQ's economic decisions over the past eight years. When Fréchette tried to redirect the debate back to the PQ's referendum plans, Milliard shot back: "You're in a debate with me right now." Ruba Ghazal of Québec solidaire and Éric Duhaime of the Conservative Party of Quebec also participated.

The third and final leaders' debate is scheduled for September 23. The Quebec election is October 5.