Published on
Quebec City, June 2, 2026 - With only a few months to go before the Quebec election campaign, the results of a new poll commissioned by Équiterre are unequivocal: citizens want concrete commitments to protect what is essential—clean air, safe drinking water, food security, and improved transportation.
Protect drinking water and air quality
Access to clean air and drinking water is the very foundation of public health. Yet, in the face of increasingly frequent droughts, heat waves, and wildfires, governments have been slow to take appropriate action to address the challenges.
Sustainable and equitable management of drinking water is no longer an option – it’s a necessity. In the absence of clear public policies, water shortages in certain regions of Quebec risk worsening, which could fuel conflicts over water use, particularly in the agricultural and municipal sectors.
Air quality and health issues related to air pollution are also crucial. Whether poor air quality stems from land use planning and road networks (near which many vulnerable populations live), or from industrial activity, air pollution-related health problems must no longer be treated as collateral issues.
A few numbers
82% of respondents want the government to develop an industrial strategy that does not jeopardize public health.
76% of respondents would like priority to be given to infrastructure to harvest rainwater to guard against droughts.
67% of respondents are calling for a national air quality strategy to address health issues associated with poor air quality.
Increase food autonomy and security
More than 70% of respondents believe that each of the four proposed measures regarding food autonomy should be a priority for the next government, demonstrating the high expectations that Quebecers have for this issue, to help strengthen Quebec’s self-sufficiency and resilience.
Political parties are thus called upon to make concrete commitments to protect soil health, encourage diversified agriculture, and promote local products.
A few numbers
78% of respondents want local food producers to increasingly supply food services in Quebec institutions (schools, hospitals, etc.) and retailers (grocery stores).
78% of respondents call for the health of agricultural soils to be preserved by reducing the use of pesticides and non-essential fertilizers.
74% of respondents want agricultural land to be protected by limiting non-agricultural and non-essential uses.
Improve public transportation
To reduce traffic congestion, Quebecers want the next government to invest in alternatives to car travel. A well-structured, efficient, and accessible public transportation network is the key to creating lasting change in how we get around.
To achieve this, political parties not only need to maintain existing infrastructure, but must also to integrate solutions into land-use planning.
A few numbers
78% of respondents would like to see improvements in public transportation service and frequency.
75% of respondents want new housing projects (built in cities and suburbs) to be served by public transit and active transportation networks.
Quote
“The results of this survey show that Quebecers overwhelmingly support the solutions proposed by the Vire au Vert Coalition to address major environmental issues. We’re providing a concrete game plan that political parties can easily implement as they campaign in the upcoming provincial election,” say members of the Vire au Vert Coalition.
About Vire au Vert
Vire au Vert (vireauvert.org) is a coalition of more than twenty environmental and civil society organizations in Quebec. It seeks to encourage sustainable public policies, raise public awareness of environmental issues, and strengthen dialogue between civil society and policymakers.
For more information:
Communications Officer, Content Creation and Media Relations
