Quebec Conservative Party Leader Éric Duhaime and former Coalition Avenir Québec Member of the National Assembly Maïté Blanchette Vézina have joined forces to co-sponsor a new bill aimed at reforming immigration policies. The announcement came during the party’s convention on Saturday and Sunday in Lac-Delage, near Québec City, where Blanchette Vézina appeared as a prominent guest despite not yet formally joining the party.
Focus on Regionalizing Immigration
The proposed legislation emphasizes regionalizing immigration by equipping regions with essential tools, including programs for francization. Blanchette Vézina, who has served as an independent MNA from Rimouski since September, addressed these plans in her speech. When questioned by reporters afterward about her unclear political affiliation, she responded, “There are steps to take in a reflection process.”
Standing alongside her, Duhaime expressed his vision, stating his “goal is for Maïté to run under the Conservative party banner in the next election.”
Party Leaders Encourage Conservative Pride
Stéphane Lachance, a Conservative Party member and opposition leader at Quebec City Hall, urged attendees to embrace their conservative identity without shame. Speaking to about 300 participants, he declared, “Hold your head high. The shame needs to switch sides. There is no shame in wanting common sense to finally return to our lives.”
Anne Casabonne, the party’s former candidate in Iberville, highlighted the party’s rising popularity, noting, “We’re climbing in the polls. We’re rising like crazy!” She also criticized opponents for adopting conservative policies, accusing them of “plagiarizing” ideas. Karim Elayoubi, chair of the policy committee, observed, “Everyone is fighting on the right.”
The convention serves as a key step in developing the party’s platform for the upcoming provincial election in fall 2026.
Economic Policy Resolutions Adopted
Delegates approved several economic initiatives on Saturday morning. They voted to eliminate the Economic Development Fund and restructure the Treasury Board into a Treasury and Government Efficiency Board. This new entity would conduct ongoing reviews of all government expenditures and programs.
Further resolutions seek to revise Investissement Québec’s mandate to eliminate political interference and align its support for businesses with the model of the Business Development Bank of Canada. The party also supports abolishing the carbon market and the Green Fund, citing Quebec’s minimal contribution of about 0.14 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions. Resolutions argue that expenditures since 2014 have yielded no meaningful reductions in emissions.
Louis Charbonneau, from the Laval-des-Rapides riding, contended that CO2 serves as an essential substance for plant growth rather than a pollutant.
Another measure allows ministries and agencies to retain up to 10 percent of unspent funds for the next year, aiming to curb wasteful spending driven by a “use it or lose it” approach that leads to hasty year-end expenditures. However, members rejected a proposal for the government to issue regular plain-language summaries of public finances, citing risks of potential misinformation.
Duhaime commended the delegates during a news conference, observing that the party is demonstrating greater maturity and professionalism.
Polling Outlook for the Next Election
Recent polls suggest potential gains for the Conservatives in the fall 2026 election. Aggregated data from Qc125 indicates the party could secure at least eight seats with around 16 percent support. A Léger–Le Journal–TVA survey released Saturday projects 14 percent of the vote, positioning the party fourth behind the Parti Québécois, Quebec Liberal Party, and Coalition Avenir Québec.
In the 2022 election, the Quebec Conservative Party garnered over 530,000 votes but did not win any seats in the National Assembly.
