Former PQ leader comes to defence of anglophones during election campaign

Many English-speaking Quebecers are feeling sidelined in this election campaign, but it turns out anglophones have an unlikely ally: the former PQ leader.

In 2018, five months before Quebec voters would go to the polls in a pivotal election, former PQ leader Jean-François Lisée caught reporters at the National Assembly by surprise when he stood at a podium in the foyer and challenged the other party leaders to an English debate.

Eight years later, now observing the 2026 election campaign as a columnist and political analyst, Lisée has emerged as an unlikely ally to the province’s anglophones – raising questions about the party leaders’ positions on two issues that have stoked anger and frustration in the English-speaking community, and left many anglophones feeling sidelined: the CAQ’s insistence on French-only voter information cards, and the refusal of three leaders to take part in an English leaders’ debate.