Quebec party leaders turn attention to fracking on Day 24 of election campaign

Party leaders don't see eye to eye on support for fracking

Shale gas became an issue on the campaign trail Saturday as Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette claimed more Quebecers are warming up to fracking amid trade tensions with the United States.

Fracking has already been raised during the Quebec election campaign, especially with the Quebec Conservatives pushing fossil fuels to boost the economy.

Fréchette was reacting to a report by La Presse that, citing its own survey, showed Quebecers are still heavily divided on the issue.

However, the newspaper said the survey showed support for fracking increased if used as a tool to gain autonomy from American markets.

The CAQ, under former premier François Legault, banned the exploration and production of shale gas in 2022.

During the race for the party leadership in the spring, Fréchette said she was open to revisiting shale gas development in Quebec.

"I think Quebecers have shifted their perspective a bit and I believe there’s greater openness to these possibilities," Fréchette said during a news conference in Trois-Rivières, Que., on Saturday.

"Is that openness enough to say we should consider moving forward? I’m not there yet, but I would say that if we ever get to that point, there will also need to be social acceptance."

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Québec Solidaire, the Quebec Liberal Party and the Parti Québécois have firmly opposed fracking for shale gas.

“To stand up to Donald Trump, we have to highlight what makes us strong. That's clean energy, hydroelectricity, wind power, and geothermal energy," said Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal on Saturday in Montreal.

"We’re sitting on a gold mine called clean energy.”

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Fréchette's economy minister, Eric Girard, skirted around the question of shale gas during the economics debate on Thursday evening.

However, Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime is a staunch advocate of shale gas, arguing that the technology has evolved and that it could even be an environmentally friendly option.

Fréchette was careful to distance herself from her Conservative opponent on the issue.

“Duhaime doesn’t seem to have any reservations. I, on the other hand, do have reservations. I have guidelines, and they will have to be respected if we ever decide to move forward,” she said.

Elsewhere on the campaign trail

Ghazal and Duhaime both participated in marches and protests while campaigning Saturday.

Duhaime was in Rigaud, a municipality in the Montérégie region near the Ontario boundary, where farmers protested against the proposed Alto high-speed train.

Opponents have asked Ottawa to suspend the project fearing it would encroach on Quebec's farmland.

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The PQ and the Conservatives have opposed the project, which would connect Quebec City to Toronto. On top of their concerns over agriculture, the parties believe the project is too expensive.

"First, there’s the issue of costs. We estimate at least $100 billion for a project like this," said Duhaime, speaking at the protest. "Second, there’s the issue of farmland as well ... I think it’s ill-advised."

Meanwhile, Ghazal took part in a march in Montreal to demand action on violence against on women.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 17 possible femicides in Quebec, according to a coalition of organizations against gender-based violence.

PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon kept a low-profile on Saturday and did not announce any new promises, choosing instead to spend time with his family.

Liberal leader Charles Milliard was expected to speak in Saint-Tite, Que., but had to push back his news conference after an incident at a local country music festival.

Six pedestrians were injured after being struck by a driver. Provincial police say the act did not appear premeditated.