Benjamin Segobaetso – Local Journalism Initiative
Published online August 26, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
MRC PONTIAC – Pontiac’s mayors are calling on Quebec’s political parties to commit to participating in English-language leaders’ debates after a planned debate for the upcoming provincial election was cancelled when several major parties declined to take part.
During its August 20 meeting, the MRC Pontiac Council of Mayors unanimously adopted a resolution calling on all provincial political parties to participate fully in English-
language leaders’ debates during the 2026 provincial election campaign and in future elections. The resolution comes after an English-language leaders’ debate organized by a consortium of English-language media outlets was scheduled for September 24 but was subsequently cancelled. According to the resolution, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) and Parti Québécois (PQ) refused to participate, citing scheduling conflicts. The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) had made its participation conditional on all major parties agreeing to attend.
The cancellation has particular significance for the Pontiac. The MRC Pontiac has a significant English-speaking population and holds officially recognized bilingual status under Section 29.1 of Quebec’s Charter of the French Language. In its resolution, council argued that English-language debates give English-speaking electors an opportunity to hear directly from provincial party leaders on issues affecting their communities. Among the issues identified by council are access to language rights.
The resolution also states that participation by all major provincial political parties in an English-language debate helps promote transparency, informed public discussion and democratic participation. Council is asking all parties to publicly commit, “effective immediately,” to participating fully in any English-language leaders’ debates organized during the upcoming provincial election campaign and in future campaigns. The resolution also provides an alternative for political parties unwilling or unable to participate in a
traditional leaders’ debate.
In those circumstances, the MRC wants parties to organize equivalent forums in English that are accessible to English-speaking communities across Quebec.
Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to Pontiac MNA André Fortin; Coalition Avenir Québec leader and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette; Quebec Liberal Party leader Charles Milliard; Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon; Québec solidaire co-spokespersons Ruba Ghazal and Sol Zanetti; and Conservative Party of Quebec leader Éric Duhaime. Copies will also be sent to local media outlets in the Pontiac, the Association of Bilingual Municipalities of Quebec and Talking, Advocating, Living in Québec (TALQ).
By adopting the resolution unanimously, Pontiac mayors are adding their voices to concerns over how provincial political parties engage with Quebec’s English-speaking electorate during election campaigns. For the MRC Pontiac, the issue extends beyond whether a single debate takes place in September. Council’s resolution frames access to English-language political forums as a question of democratic participation and ensuring English-speaking voters can hear directly from the people seeking to lead Quebec.
