Some Montreal ridings are too close to call
Sea of Liberal red likely in Montreal, but QS projected to succeed in 4 places
François Legault and his Coalition Avenir Québec are headed for a comfortable majority, according to a polling analysis published Monday by Philippe J. Fournier, who tracks political surveys at Qc125. com and l’Actualité magazine.
His projection indicates that at the moment, the CAQ would win 31 more seats than the Liberals. He estimates the CAQ would win 71, the Liberals 40, the Parti Québécois nine and Québec solidaire five.
A party must win at least 63 ridings to form a majority government.
This was the seat breakdown in the National Assembly before the election was called:
Liberals: 68; PQ: 28; CAQ: 21; QS: 3; Independent: 5
The analysis includes riding-byriding projections.
Much of Montreal, home to 27 ridings, is expected to be a sea of Liberal red, as usual.
But four central Montreal ridings are projected to go to QS: Gouin, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Mercier and Sainte-Marie–Saint-Jacques.
And, the analysis indicates, QS may pick up two more.
One is Laurier-Dorion, a riding that was left in turmoil after Gerry Sklavounos left the Liberal caucus over sexual-assault allegations. (No charges were laid.) Sklavounos is not seeking re-election.
The other riding within the QS’s grasp at the moment would be a bigger coup: Rosemont, currently held by PQ leader Jean-François Lisée.
The projection indicates the CAQ is essentially tied with the Liberals in Maurice-Richard, a north-end riding, and is slightly ahead in two east-end ridings where it’s up against incumbent PQ MNA Maka Kotto in Bourget and PQ star candidate JeanMartin Aussant in neighbouring Pointe-aux-Trembles.
The analysis is based on polls published over the last month by Léger, CROP, Mainstreet and Ipsos, as well as daily tracking by Mainstreet/Groupe Capitales Médias, Fournier said. He also used Canadian census data and the voting history of electoral districts.
WAS IT THE LATEST POLLS?
Odd fashion statement from Suzanne Pilote, the wife of Liberal leader Philippe Couillard, on the campaign trail Monday morning.
“On no, it’s Monday again,” read her English-only T-shirt over the image of a sad panda.
She was wearing the T-shirt at a campaign event at a school in StFélicien.
Pilote later explained that she chose the look “for the children,” Radio-Canada journalist Romain Schué reported. She changed after the event.
Election day, Oct. 1, is also a Monday.
Pilote is known to detest politics.
POSTER HELP
Québec solidaire, which has the most creative election posters by far, is now asking the public to submit their own designs, some of which may end up on a telephone pole near you.
Saying it’s tired of old-fashioned political posters, the party asked six artists for fresh designs. They came up with about 100 posters now being fastened to posts across the province. Several of them feature drawings of the co-spokespeople, but most are colourful creations that focus on issues such as dental care, the environment, sovereignty and public transit.
Now, it’s asking the public to submit their own ideas via a special party website — monaffiche. quebecsolidaire.net.
PSST — WANNA DONATE?
Quebec has had its share of shady political financing — envelopes full of cash, fake names on receipts, donations in exchange for contracts.
With the election campaign underway, Elections Quebec is reminding voters about strict financing rules.
If you want to financially support your favourite party or independent candidate, keep these seven points in mind:
To donate, you must be an eligible ■ voter.
Only parties or independent candidates ■ authorized by Elections Quebec can accept donations.
Only an official agent can solicit ■ donations.
Normally $100 per year can be ■ donated. In election years, the limit jumps to $200.
A receipt must be provided.
■
A donor’s name, postal code and ■ municipality will be listed on Elections Quebec’s website.
Donations can be made by ■ cheque, credit card or cash. If it’s cash, the maximum allowable amount is $50.