Quebec CAQ leadership candidates focus on gender equality

QUÉBEC — As the Coalition Avenir Québec leadership race continues, both candidates seeking to succeed outgoing Quebec premier François Legault highlighted gender equality as a key issue, though their approaches differed.

The Canadian Press spoke with Bernard Drainville and Christine Fréchette ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday to discuss their positions on women’s rights and political representation.

Although Dranville refused to label himself a “feminist,” he said he was a “strong supporter of equality between men and women.” He said he was hoping that his proposals on home ownership assistance for first-time buyers and in vitro fertilization funding would help attract women to the CAQ.

“I’ve made a commitment to reach gender parity among candidates in the next election,” Drainville said. “But not just parity — we’re also going to have young candidates under 30. They could be young men, but they could also be young women.”

He added that measures such as helping first-time buyers purchase new properties and financing up to three IVF cycles could appeal to young women by supporting their goals of property ownership and parenthood.

There have been seven femicides in Québec since the beginning of 2026. Like Fréchette, Drainville supported legislation inspired by “Clare’s Law,” which allows women to learn about their partner’s history of domestic violence. The CAQ government, including Public Safety Minister Ian Lafrenière, had pledged to implement this measure.

“The CAQ government has made some progress, notably with the implementation of anti-approach bracelets. So we also need to put forward measures like these to protect women against sexual and domestic violence, and that could also be an argument to attract potential female candidates,” said Drainville.

Drainville also pointed to his efforts with Bill 94, which enshrined respect for gender equality in the school code of conduct, expressing concern over the rise of masculinist discourse among youth.

“It worries me enormously,” he said.

Despite this, Drainville stopped short of identifying as a feminist, explaining, “I don’t want to be imprisoned by any single definition.”

Fréchette embraced the feminist label and voiced concern over a growing backlash against gender equality.

“People feel more uninhibited; they feel free to express opinions that go against women, and that worries me greatly,” she said.

The rise of masculinist discourse has been documented in several media outlets in recent months. A recent study found that teachers were observing an increase in intolerant remarks from students toward various groups, including women.

Fréchette also proposed adding 50 additional resources to women’s shelters, including socio-legal support, psychosocial follow-up, and post-housing services, at an estimated annual cost of $4 million.

“Not all requests for shelter from women experiencing violence are being met,” she said. “We need to take action because we don’t have the luxury of waiting for things to resolve on their own.”

The former member of the Council on the Status of Women—Québec’s government advisory council on women’s issues — Fréchette was appointed at age 26 and served for nine years. If elected CAQ leader, she would become the second woman to serve as premier of Québec, after Pauline Marois, who held the office from 2012 to 2014 with the Parti Québécois.

“I don’t think there’s any need to attach a negative connotation to it. In many ways, women are still behind men, for example, when it comes to pay,” she said. “So legal equality exists, but equality in practice has yet to be achieved.”

Fréchette said she would pursue gender parity among candidates and in her future cabinet.

She said she would aim to achieve gender parity, both among candidates in the next election and in the composition of a potential cabinet. But the CAQ has struggled to reconnect with Quebecers — including women.

A recent Léger poll showed the party receiving only 11 per cent support among women.

“Once there is a new leader, I think women will look at the CAQ in a renewed way. I already sense it — several people, men and women alike, are telling me, ‘It seems time that we have a woman leading the government.’,” said Fréchette.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2026.

Thomas Laberge, The Canadian Press