CAQ Leader Race: Fréchette Pulls Ahead

0:00It's April 7, Canada News Today starts now. AI-powered and ready, I'm Cory with the story. CAQ party members in Quebec kicked off voting Tuesday for their new leader, with 20,500 eligible folks casting ballots from 10am until Sunday, April 12th at 3pm. The two finalists are Christine Frischette, the former Economy Super Minister, and Bernard Draenville, ex-environment minister. Whoever wins steps right up as the next premiere, replacing founder François Légo, who bowed out in January, both candidates scooped up fresh endorsements right up to the wire. Draenville added three cabinet heavyweights, Monday justice, health, and transport ministers, pushing his caucus backers to 19. Frischette fired back Tuesday, grabbing two more, the natural resources minister, and the caucus chair, who had to step down to endorse her. That bumps her total to 40 M&As in her corner. Polls of CAQ voters show Frischette leading, though it's murky how many actual members

1:02they surveyed. A le J-Poll for her cam says she'd lift party support to 16% among the general public, of seven points from recent lows around 9%. Boosting chances in the fall election. Voting wraps Sunday in Drummondville with the big reveal, so eyes stay glued as Quebec's political beat drops its next track.