The issues facing the Outaouais region will be at the heart of an election debate on September 9th

The issues facing the Outaouais region will be at the heart of an election debate on September 9th

As the 2026 provincial elections approach, five candidates from the parties represented in the National Assembly of Quebec will meet on September 9th in Gatineau for the Outaouais Debate.

Organized jointly by Culture Outaouais, Le Droit, the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), and the Observatoire du développement de l’Outaouais (ODO), the event will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Grande Salle at UQO, located at 283 Alexandre-Taché Boulevard.

The candidates will be asked to address six priority issues for the region: education, the cost of living, culture, infrastructure, health, and sovereignty. Discussions will focus in particular on the underfunding of the Outaouais region and the solutions proposed by the various parties.

Clara Lagacé, co-president of Culture Outaouais, will participate in the debate to represent the cultural sector and advocate for its needs with the candidates.

“It is essential that we coordinate our efforts and speak with one voice,” emphasizes Ms. Lagacé, who also wants to reiterate the need for significant funding for the cultural sector and other sectors that contribute to the vitality of Outaouais communities.

The debate will allow citizens to learn about the candidates’ commitments on key regional issues and compare their proposals in preparation for the provincial election.

The public can attend the debate in person. The event will also be broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the newspaper Le Droit and on CHIP 101.9 radio.