Carle Jasmin (Picture : Pixabay)
As part of the Quebec elections taking place on October 5, 2026, we believe it is important to present the main political parties that currently stand out in the polls, in order to better understand their platform, their history, but also their positions on issues concerning the LGBT communities, which represent an important and highly engaged segment of the electorate.
Five parties are therefore currently competing for the seats available in the National Assembly, namely:
Parti québécois — Paul St-Pierre Plamondon
Quebec Liberal Party — Charles Milliard
Coalition avenir Québec — Christine Fréchette
Conservative Party of Quebec — Éric Duhaime
Québec solidaire — Ruba Ghazal
The Parti Québécois
The Parti québécois (PQ), founded in 1968 around René Lévesque, remains one of the most influential political parties in Quebec’s contemporary history. Created through the merger of several sovereigntist movements, it first came to power in 1976, forming the government of René Lévesque. It also won the 1981 election. The PQ returned to power under Jacques Parizeau in 1994, and later under Bernard Landry in 2003.
Its primary purpose remains Quebec sovereignty. Under the leadership of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the party continues to advocate independence, but recently announced that a potential referendum would not be held before 2029. The PQ also focuses on protecting and promoting French, reducing immigration, strengthening the Quebec government, improving public services, and achieving greater economic and political autonomy for Quebec.
On LGBTQ+ issues, the history of the PQ is marked by several important advances. In 1977, the government of René Lévesque notably amended the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, adding sexual orientation to the grounds of prohibited discrimination, a first in Canada.
Today, the PQ officially states that it defends LGBTQ+ rights and recalls its historical role in advancing them. The party has notably endorsed the Charter of Good Treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors promoted by Fondation Émergence.
The party’s current position has nevertheless become more nuanced on certain issues related to sexual diversity and gender identity. Internal debates surrounding transgender rights have drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ organizations, while the PQ maintains that its positions on sexual diversity are “clear and consistent.”
The Quebec Liberal Party
Founded in 1867, the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) is one of the oldest political parties still active in Quebec. It played a central role in the Quiet Revolution and governed Quebec under Jean Lesage beginning in 1960, followed by Robert Bourassa, Daniel Johnson Jr., Jean Charest and Philippe Couillard. Since 1970, the PLQ and the Parti québécois have largely shared power, until the emergence of the Coalition avenir Québec in 2018.
Ideologically, the PLQ supports Canadian federalism and identifies with both economic and social liberalism. The party traditionally focuses on economic development, entrepreneurship, private investment, business growth and maintaining accessible public services. For the 2026 election, under the leadership of Charles Milliard, the PLQ is placing the economy, health care, education, housing and regional development at the heart of its priorities. Its campaign slogan, “Rassembler. Réparer. Bâtir.”, reflects its stated desire to rebuild the party after several difficult years electorally.
The PLQ also has a long history of defending LGBTQ+ rights. In 2008, a Liberal government notably assigned responsibility for combating homophobia to the Minister of Justice, and the government of Philippe Couillard subsequently adopted the 2017–2022 Government Action Plan to Combat Homophobia and Transphobia. For several years, the party has maintained that combating homophobia and transphobia is an important political responsibility.
In its public positions, the PLQ has generally supported the protection of LGBTQ+ rights, the fight against discrimination and recognition of the realities of transgender and non-binary people. It has notably opposed measures that could restrict LGBTQ+ rights without adequate consultation with the organizations concerned.
The PLQ therefore differs from the PQ primarily in its conception of Quebec’s political status: while the sovereigntists advocate independence, the Liberals want Quebec to remain within the Canadian federation. On LGBTQ+ issues, the party remains historically associated with a relatively progressive approach and the defence of individual rights.
The Coalition Avenir Québec / Équipe Christine Fréchette
Founded in 2011 by François Legault, the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) was created out of a desire to move beyond the traditional divide between federalists and sovereigntists. The party, which notably emerged from a merger with the Action démocratique du Québec, defines itself as a nationalist party seeking greater autonomy for Quebec while remaining within the Canadian federation.
The CAQ won the 2018 election, ending nearly 15 years of alternating governments between the Quebec Liberal Party and the Parti québécois. It was re-elected in 2022 and governed Quebec for eight years under François Legault. Since April 2026, the party has been led by Christine Fréchette, who is also Premier of Quebec and is leading the party in the 2026 election campaign.
The CAQ platform is primarily based on economic development, reducing the cost of living, improving the efficiency of public services, health care, education, innovation and regional development. Protecting the French language, culture and Quebec identity is also a central element of its political project. The CAQ advocates a more autonomous Quebec within Canada, rather than the sovereignty proposed by the PQ.
On LGBTQ+ issues, the CAQ’s record is more nuanced. The government has maintained Quebec’s policy to combat homophobia and transphobia, as well as the 2023–2028 government action plan. It has also supported several measures aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination.
However, the CAQ government’s positions on certain issues affecting transgender people have led to significant debates with LGBTQ+ organizations. Gender identity, particularly when it concerns young people, has become a more sensitive political issue in recent years.
The CAQ is therefore distinguished by strong nationalism, an economic approach generally favourable to business and a desire to strengthen Quebec’s autonomy without questioning its place within Canada. On LGBTQ+ issues, it officially maintains its commitment to combating discrimination, but its approach to certain issues involving transgender people is more cautious and controversial than that traditionally associated with progressive parties.
The Conservative Party of Quebec
The Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) was officially recognized by the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec in 2009. After several years as a marginal political party, it experienced significant growth under the leadership of Éric Duhaime, who was elected leader in April 2021. The party won more than 12% of the vote in 2022 and has since established itself as a significant political force in certain parts of Quebec.
The PCQ clearly positions itself on the right of Quebec’s political spectrum, with a discourse focused on reducing the size of government, lowering taxes and levies, individual freedom and personal responsibility. For the 2026 election, Éric Duhaime is promising what he describes as “historic” tax cuts, reduced public spending, greater use of the private sector in health care and deregulation intended, among other things, to accelerate residential construction. The party also wants to abolish Santé Québec and increase the role of the private sector within the health-care system.
The PCQ has also adopted a more nationalist and autonomist approach. It proposes a Quebec constitution, a “shield” against federal intervention in areas of Quebec jurisdiction and a reaffirmation of Quebec’s French character. It nevertheless remains in favour of Quebec remaining within Canada.
On LGBTQ+ issues, the PCQ’s position is particular. Its leader, Éric Duhaime, is openly gay and says that the rights of gay and lesbian people are established. He has stated that the party supports the rights of everyone, including those of the gay and lesbian community, and that there is no appetite within the PCQ to reconsider same-sex marriage or the rights associated with it.
The issue of gender identity is considerably more controversial, however. Duhaime has opposed teaching certain concepts related to gender identity to young children and believes that these matters should be more heavily entrusted to parents. These positions have drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ organizations. In 2022, the PCQ also declined to answer Fugues questions on several LGBTQ+ issues, leaving some ambiguity surrounding its position on a number of matters.
The PCQ therefore appears to be an economically libertarian and conservative party, but not traditionally conservative when it comes to gay rights. Its approach to transgender issues and sex education nevertheless remains one of the main points of friction with part of the LGBTQ+ movement.
Québec Solidaire
Founded in 2006 through the merger of the Union des forces progressistes and Option citoyenne, Québec solidaire (QS) quickly established itself as Quebec’s main left-wing political party. The party combines an independentist project with a social, environmentalist and feminist platform. It entered the National Assembly in 2008 with Amir Khadir and subsequently experienced significant growth in the following elections. In 2022, QS elected 11 members. For the 2026 campaign, the party is notably represented by Ruba Ghazal and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
QS’s political project is based on substantially greater government intervention in the economy and public services. The party proposes strengthening the public health-care and education systems, addressing the housing crisis through greater regulation of the market and the construction of social housing, reducing economic inequality and accelerating the ecological transition. Its current priorities also include fighting the rising cost of living, access to housing and protecting public services.
Québec solidaire also remains independentist, but wants the creation of a country to be accompanied by social and democratic transformation. The party currently promotes the idea of “building a country for everyone,” with a particular emphasis on inclusion, diversity and the participation of Indigenous peoples, newcomers, workers and regions.
On LGBTQ+ issues, QS is one of Quebec’s most openly progressive parties. Since its founding, it has advocated combating homophobia and transphobia and recognizing the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Its platform includes measures concerning transgender, non-binary and intersex people, including recognition of gender diversity and greater flexibility regarding civil-status documents.
The party also became involved early in defending transgender rights. In 2016, Manon Massé notably pressured the government to allow transgender minors to change their sex designation on civil-status documents.
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