Quebec election campaign to officially kick off as Liberals seek new mandate

MONTREAL – Quebec political parties are at the starting line as the provincial election campaign kicks off today.

Campaign buses will fan out across the province for the next 39 days as the parties jockey for votes ahead of the Oct. 1 election.

Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard is expected meet with his cabinet for a brief meeting at 9 a.m. before walking to the office of Lt.-Gov. J. Michel Doyon some 30 minutes later.Following a brief meeting, Doyon will sign two decrees formalizing the dissolution of the legislature and the start of the election campaign.

With the exception of a 19-month Parti Quebecois minority government between 2012 and 2014, the Liberals have been in power since 2003.

Couillard is seeking his second mandate as premier after winning a majority in April 2014, but the polls in recent months have suggested the Coalition Avenir Quebec is favoured.