Ready Story Transcript

Monday's vote in Quebec could move provincial politics away from the question of sovereignty versus federalism, and towards the global norm of left versus right, according to a political pollster.

"This is the first time in 50-odd years that we don't have Quebec politics being sort of mainly played on that axis of sovereignty versus federalism," said Christian Bourque, vice-president and senior partner at the polling and marketing firm Leger.

"If you look at younger voters when they talk about the election, this whole discourse of Ottawa versus Quebec, French versus English, federalist versus sovereigntist is basically just not part of the language."

Polls opened at 9:30 a.m. ET in Quebec for provincial election voting, and close at 8 p.m. (DGEQ)

The shift is bringing Quebec politics to a left versus right paradigm, he added. This change in focus — away from sovereignty, and with a greater focus on immigration — has also undermined the business-as-usual power play between the Liberals and Parti Québécois.

Two parties are expected to make gains: the centre-right, populist Coalition Avenir Québec and the left-wing Québec Solidaire.

"Probably tonight, half of Quebecers​ will have voted for something else than the two traditional parties in the province," Bourque said.

Christian Bourque, Mireille Paquet and Martin Patriquin spoke with Anna Maria Tremonti to discuss the election. (Susan Mckenzie/CBC)

To discuss the new political landscape, The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti was joined by:

Martin Patriquin, columnist for iPolitics.

Mireille Paquet, political science professor and co-director of Concordia's Center for Immigration Policy Evaluation.

Christian Bourque, vice-president and senior partner at the polling and marketing firm Leger.

Listen to the full conversation near the top of this page.

Written by Padraig Moran. Produced by Idella Sturino, Samira Mohyeddin and Zena Olijnyk.