Quebec Conservatives Position Themselves as Party Focused on Current Issues
As Quebec's major political parties continue to engage in longstanding constitutional debates, the Quebec Conservative Party is positioning itself as the political force dedicated to addressing the immediate concerns facing Quebecers today. Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime emphasized this distinction during the release of policy resolutions ahead of the party's convention in Quebec City.
Moving Beyond Historical Debates
"People are sick and tired of hearing parties that are trying to re-battle what happened on the Plains of Abraham in 1759," Duhaime stated during a Friday news conference. "The Liberals and the PQ have been fighting for decades about the battles of the past. We are fighting the battles of today, of everybody, of the workers and taxpayers."
The Conservative leader outlined that Quebecers want political parties committed to practical solutions that help citizens pay their bills, manage grocery expenses, renew mortgages, and enable youth to access property ownership. These, according to Duhaime, represent the genuine issues of 2026 that deserve political attention.
Policy Proposals for Practical Governance
With 400 delegates expected to debate resolutions at the policy convention this weekend, the Conservatives have unveiled several concrete proposals. The convention theme, "Le vrai changement: Pour un Québec fier et prospère" (Real change: For a proud and prosperous Quebec), reflects the party's right-of-centre orientation while emphasizing practical governance.
Karim Elayoubi, chairperson of the party's policy committee, detailed specific measures including:
- Renaming Quebec's Treasury Board to "Treasury Board and Government Efficiency" with a mandate to systematically review all government spending and programs
- Gradually abolishing the Fonds du développement économique du Québec and using some of its $6.2 billion to address Quebec's historic deficit
- Implementing various tax reduction measures for citizens
- Making home care a central priority of the healthcare system as a cost-effective alternative to conventional hospitals
- Supporting the Energy East pipeline and reviving Quebec's nuclear energy program through small modular reactors
- Increasing provincial autonomy by allowing the National Assembly to declare federal policies as jurisdictional intrusions
Electoral Strategy and Visibility
Despite securing 530,000 votes (12.91 percent) in the 2022 election without winning a legislative seat, Duhaime expressed optimism that this convention—the last before October's general election—would enhance party visibility. He noted with satisfaction the increasing tendency of Quebec political leaders to position themselves right of centre, including Coalition Avenir Québec leadership candidates Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville.
"I am very happy to see everyone today wanting to stick a right sticker on themselves," Duhaime remarked. "It shows the evolution and importance of the conservatives in Quebec."
Broadening Appeal Beyond Traditional Bases
Duhaime specifically addressed anglophone voters, challenging the assumption that the Quebec Liberal Party represents their only viable option. During the Liberal Party's recent crisis in November, the Conservatives launched an advertising campaign targeting anglophone voters with pledges of no referendum and no corruption.
"The English community has to stop being the hostage of the Quebec Liberals," Duhaime asserted, pointing to disarray within Liberal ranks outside Montreal. He cited the delayed candidate nomination for the February 23 byelection in Chicoutimi as evidence of Liberal organizational challenges.
According to a Pallas Data poll commissioned by the Conservative Party, the Chicoutimi byelection appears to be developing as a two-way contest between the Parti Québécois and Conservatives. The January 22 survey of 311 voters showed PQ candidate Marie-Karlynn Laflamme with 43 percent support and Conservative candidate Catherine Morrissette with 23 percent support, with a margin of error of 5.6 percent.
As Quebec's political landscape evolves ahead of the provincial election, the Conservatives are clearly attempting to distinguish themselves as the party focused on practical solutions rather than historical debates, while simultaneously expanding their appeal beyond traditional conservative constituencies.
