Quebec party leaders talk transport, health care on campaign trail as first debate looms

Quebec party leaders talk transport, health care on campaign trail as first debate looms MARIEKE GLORIEUX-STRYCKMAN MONTREAL THE CANADIAN PRESS PUBLISHED 17 MINUTES AGO Open this photo in gallery: Quebec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal makes a giant bubble during an election campaign stop at a back to school festival in Montreal, on Sept. 12. GRAHAM HUGHES/THE CANADIAN PRESS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Promises on transport, public safety and health care filled the air on the Quebec campaign trail on Saturday as leaders prepare to face off in debates next week. The first of three debates between the leaders of the five major parties is scheduled for Tuesday in preparation for the Oct. 5 election. Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Liberal Leader Charles Milliard both said they would put an increased focus on prevention to lighten the province’s health care system. In a press conference in Montreal on Saturday morning, St-Pierre Plamondon said his party would invest $550 million over four years in prevention measures while encouraging physical activity and mental health care. He also promised to crack down on over-prescribing of medications. “We’re shifting our approach and saying, if we invest money and time in preventing these problems, there will be less people in emergency rooms and less people throughout the system,” he said. He also reiterated his promise to abolish Santé Québec, the province’s public health agency that was created in 2024 and became the sole employer in the health and social services network. He said not all the agency’s employees would be laid off by such a move, but did not specify how many would lose their jobs. Opinion: As Fréchette cozies up to Carney, the Quebec election is becoming a toss-up In Trois-Rivières, Milliard promised his party would invest five per cent of the province’s health care budget in 10 years in prevention services like vaccination, cancer screening and chronic disease prevention. After a week marked by talks of sovereignty, Milliard tried to paint himself as the best candidate to negotiate with Ottawa on immigration. He accused Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette of not wanting to work with the rest of the country. Québec Solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal said in a press conference in Montreal that, if elected, her party would make public transit…