CAQ’s lead over Liberals is stabilizing

Less than five months before Quebecers go to the polls, the Coalition Avenir Québec’s lead is stabilizing, while the Liberals are slipping and the province’s two other parties continue to stagnate, a new poll shows.

But more than half — 53 per cent — of voters say they could change their minds before the Oct. 1 election, according to the survey by Léger Marketing.

“This is the most unpredictable campaign in a long time,” Léger president Jean-Marc Léger said on Twitter Saturday.

Over the past 12 months, the CAQ has seen its support rise by nine percentage points, while Premier Philippe Couillard’s Liberals have fallen six points.

Meanwhile, Manon Massé’s Québec Solidaire has slipped by three points and Jean-François Lisée’s Parti Québécois (PQ) has dropped one.

The CAQ leads among francophone voters, and the party is seen as the government-in-waiting with the leader best able to govern the province. More good news for the CAQ: the electorate is looking for change and is dissatisfied with the Liberal government.

In addition, the CAQ has taken over from the Liberals as the party considered best able to deal with economic issues.

Among francophones, 41 per cent said they would vote for the CAQ, within reach of forming a majority government.