Separatist party projected to win Quebec election, adding new test to Canada's unity

Coalition Avenir Québec made safeguarding Quebec's identity and language central to its eight years in office, but its longtime leader, François Legault, eventually lost significant support among voters. Efforts to revive the party by replacing Legault with a new leader, outgoing Premier Christine Fréchette, were unsuccessful.Fréchette conceded her own re-election race in Trois-Rivières shortly before 22:00 local time. She said in a speech that she would work with St-Pierre Plamondon on the transition. "Governing Quebec is the greatest honour I have ever had," she said. "I have Quebec tattooed on my heart." The Quebec Liberal Party secured the second-most seats, while the Quebec Conservative Party gained seats.Prime Minister Carney, who leads the federal Liberal party, remains popular in Quebec, though support for him had recently dipped as US President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Canada in August, following a breakdown in trade talks.Quebec is among the hardest hit by the latest US tariffs, with experts at global forecasting firm Oxford Economics projecting a C$2bn blow for the province. Carney congratulated Plamondon on his victory late on Monday and vowed to work together with the party.