Quebec politicians have been touring the province, making pledges to address healthcare, education, and cost of living issues. However, a comprehensive analysis spanning over three decades reveals that Quebec governments have a higher tendency to backtrack or fail on campaign promises rather than fulfill them.
Research conducted by Université Laval’s Polimeter project indicates that since 1994, Quebec governments have successfully implemented only 49% of their election commitments. The ability to uphold promises is influenced by economic conditions, the duration of their term, and the complexity of the pledges themselves.
According to Lisa Birch, co-founder of Polimeter, promises that fall within the government’s jurisdiction are more manageable to keep. For instance, the previous Coalition Avenir Québec government easily fulfilled its promise to enhance secularism laws by passing legislation in the National Assembly.
However, commitments requiring actions like addressing labor shortages or negotiating with federal authorities pose greater challenges. Alexandre Fortier-Chouinard, a researcher at Université Laval, highlighted that pledges involving both actions and specific outcomes are the most difficult to achieve.
An example is former Premier François Legault’s vow in 2018 to ensure a family doctor for every Quebec resident, which proved unattainable due to a shortage of healthcare professionals. Consequently, the Coalition Avenir Québec ultimately abandoned this promise.
Looking ahead to the 2026 election, the incoming government will confront various obstacles such as labor shortages in critical sectors like construction, a persistent deficit, and economic uncertainties linked to the ongoing trade disputes with the United States.
Several parties, including the Parti Québécois and the Conservatives, have pledged to streamline government bureaucracy while enhancing services like healthcare and education. However, Birch cautioned that fulfilling these dual objectives may lead to contradictions.
For instance, Liberal Leader Charles Milliard’s proposal to construct 100,000 housing units annually faces challenges due to capacity limitations within the construction industry. Birch emphasized that private sector dynamics and funding processes could impede rapid progress in such endeavors.
When the CAQ assumed power in 2018, they maintained around 55% of their platform commitments but faced difficulties in their subsequent term due to financial constraints and policy disputes. Economic stability plays a crucial role in a government’s ability to deliver on promises, with uncertain economic conditions posing significant hurdles.
Birch underscored that voters should consider a government’s implicit mandate to manage unforeseen challenges in addition to their campaign pledges. Governments are elected not only to fulfill promises but also to govern effectively amidst unforeseeable events, as demonstrated by the unforeseen challenges posed by the pandemic during the CAQ’s term.
