Québec Solidaire would end oil dependence by 2030

Québec Solidaire co-spokersperson Françoise David says her party wants Quebec to be the world leader in ending dependence on oil by 2030.

• Quebec Votes

"Québec Solidaire is offering a choice: reduce our dependence on oil by creating jobs and wealth across our territory, because refusing this vital shift is to submit ourselves to severe economic and ecological consequences," David said at a news conference in Montreal on Monday.

She said a Québec Solidaire government would ​invest $23 million in public transit and eco-friendly innovations, in order to fuel the province's shift away from an oil-based economy.

She said that money would create 160,000 jobs over the next five years, including: 

• 10,000 new jobs in public transportation.
• 145,000 new jobs in construction.
• New jobs in green technology.

The party also promised $1,000 tax rebates for families that decrease their oil consumption.

Québec Solidaire said the switch to more clean energy sources would translate into $920 million in additional revenues for Hydro-Québec by 2020.

CAQ says former governments played favourites

On Monday, Coalition Avenir Québec Leader François Legault focused on government transparency and corruption. 

Legault accused former PQ and Liberal governments of rewarding their supporters with patronage appointments.

He said his government would appoint high-ranking officials based on their skills and not on their political friendships.

The CAQ leader said his government would ensure that all high-ranking nominations are vetted by a national assembly committee.

PQ reviews its health care platform

Campaigning in Laval today, Pauline Marois highlighted her party's health care initiatives.

She went over her government's recent commitments, emphasizing promised increases to the $976 million health-care budget.

"We have invested in home care, in access to family doctors. Today 323,000 more Quebecers have access to a family practitioner," Marois said. 

She said her government would also unveil a mental health action plan and work to improve the early detection of autism in children. 

Liberals promise tax credit for active seniors

Improving the lives of Quebec seniors was the issue of the day for the Quebec Liberal Party.

Philippe Couillard said he wants to encourage Quebec's senior citizens to keep active by offering them a tax credit towards recreational activities.

Couillard was in Laval's Chomedey district, a Liberal stronghold, to make the announcement. 

He said a Liberal government would introduce a tax credit of up to 20 per cent that would cover up to $200 toward sports and cultural activities for older people who have an income of $40,000 or less.

Couillard made several other commitments, including:

• Establishing a loan program for homeowners who are 60 and older, to help them pay for school and property taxes (for households with an income of $70,000 or less.)
• Providing compassionate leave and tax credits for caregivers.
• Investing $150 million over five years towards more home-care services for seniors to remain autonomous.

Couillard said his party's initiatives would help prevent Quebec seniors from becoming isolated.

"This will allow our aged population to develop new skills, mitigate the effects of aging and maintain their social network," he said.