Quebec election enters final week amid U.S. interference controversy

Quebec voters are one week from the Oct. 5 provincial election as Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette continues to manage fallout from allegations of possible U.S. interference. Last week Fréchette sought an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney after reports centred on essays from the U.S.-based Defense Analyses and Research Corporation urging Americans to stoke division in Canada, including suggested support for separatist movements.

By Friday evening her office said there was no confirmed information that foreign interference had occurred in the campaign. Radio-Canada later reported that CAQ staff had contacted journalists about the material days before the party informed Fréchette and before it contacted the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. On Monday Fréchette blamed members of her own team for how the story was handled with the media.

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard criticized the timing and handling of the claims as advance polls opened. CSIS has said it briefed provincial parties on foreign-interference risks in June. Fréchette has no meeting scheduled with Carney on the matter as leaders make their final pitch to voters.