PQ touts balanced-budget plan as leaders prepare to face off in pivotal debate

POLITICS PQ touts balanced-budget plan as leaders prepare to face off in pivotal debate By Alessia Simona Maratta & Timothy Sargeant Global News Posted September 15, 2026 6:59 pm Updated September 15, 2026 10:04 pm 3 min read Many Quebec voters will have their eyes glued to the leaders' debate on TVA Tuesday night. Five party leaders will be facing off on some of the big issues of the campaign. Recent polls indicate there are countless undecided voters and the race to the top is tight among the three front-running parties. Tim Sargeant reports. LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE The Parti Québécois is pitching itself as the party of fiscal discipline just hours before Quebec’s first leaders’ debate, unveiling a plan Tuesday that promises to balance the provincial budget by 2028-29 while campaigning in an election where many voters remain undecided. The PQ says it would eliminate the deficit a year earlier than the current government’s target through $6.6 billion in spending reductions over five years, with the savings redirected toward health care, education and support for small and medium-sized businesses. “We wanted to be the last because we wanted to be sure all our promises were in there,” PQ candidate and economist Nicolas Marceau told reporters while presenting the party’s financial framework. The announcement came as the leaders of Quebec’s five main political parties stepped back from the campaign trail to prepare for Tuesday night’s TVA debate, a key moment in a race that remains fluid despite the PQ’s position near the top of most polls. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT 2:22 New cost overrun scandal haunts CAQ amid Quebec election Stick to the Facts Add Global News as a Preferred Source on Google to see more of our stories in your search results. Recent surveys suggest a significant number of Quebecers have yet to make up their minds or could still change their vote before election day on Oct. 5. Get breaking Montreal news Get breaking Montreal news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won't miss a trending story. SIGN UP FOR BREAKING MONTREAL NEWSLETTER GET STARTED BY PROVIDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO GLOBAL NEWS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY. For many voters, the issues extend beyond the sovereignty question that has long defined the PQ. On…