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Polaire · Public consultation

Beyond the vote

Published on October 5, 2026 70 participants Held from September 11, 2026 to October 5, 2026

Executive summary

The “Beyond the vote” consultation gathered the opinions of 70 citizens on key issues for the 2026 provincial elections. This initiative, conducted in an independent and non-partisan manner, gathered a variety of perspectives on topics such as health, public services, housing, and the economy.

Among the most discussed topics, 26% of respondents emphasized the need for accessible health without language barriers, while almost 30% emphasized the effective management of resources.

The improvement of public services is mentioned by half of the respondents, especially in health and affordable housing. Concerns about resource management and economic diversification were also mentioned. These points highlight the need for the future government to prioritize concrete actions in these areas.

To meet citizens' expectations, the future government could consider strengthening accessible health services and promoting affordable housing policies. These measures would be in line with the concerns most frequently expressed during the consultation.

Key takeaways

Broad consensus

There is broad agreement on the need to improve public services, especially in health and affordable housing. Respondents also emphasize the importance of managing resources effectively and diversifying the economy.

Points of disagreement

Opinions differ on the specific measures to be taken to improve public services and manage resources, with some respondents proposing a 100% public health system, while others favor gradual structural reforms.

Specific concerns to be addressed

Respondents expressed specific concerns about access to health care, including language barriers, and the housing crisis, especially in urban areas like Montreal.

Operational implications

The health department could prioritize initiatives to eliminate language barriers in health services, while the housing department could work on concrete measures to increase the supply of affordable and social housing.

A portrait of participation

Total responses
70
Written responses
68
Voicemails
2

Replies per day

Text responses Voicemails

Daily replies from Sep 11, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026: 70 across 25 days. Peak: 17 on Sep 14, 2026.

Sep 11, 2026Text responsesVoicemailsCumulative
September 11, 202616016
September 12, 20263019
September 13, 20261020
September 14, 202615237
September 15, 20264041
September 16, 20261042
September 17, 20262044
September 18, 20261045
September 19, 20260045
September 20, 20260045
September 21, 20265050
September 22, 20263053
September 23, 20263056
September 24, 20263059
September 25, 20260059
September 26, 20261060
September 27, 20260060
September 28, 20261061
September 29, 20260061
September 30, 20261062
October 1, 20262064
October 2, 20265069
October 3, 20260069
October 4, 20261070
October 5, 20260070

Demographics

Median age: 36

Excludes 2 voicemail submissions (no demographic data).

Of 68 respondents: 47.1% women, 48.5% men, 0% non-binary, 4.4% preferred not to say.

Age

18-24 2 (2.9%)
25-34 28 (41.2%)
35-44 15 (22.1%)
45-54 14 (20.6%)
55-64 6 (8.8%)
65+ 3 (4.4%)

Gender

Female 32 (47.1%)
Male 33 (48.5%)
Non-binary 0 (0%)
Prefer not to say 3 (4.4%)

What residents told us

Open-ended answers were grouped into themes using AI, so patterns across many responses are easier to see. Each theme below shows how many people raised it, with examples in participants' own words.

What should be the first measure of the future Prime Minister/the future Prime Minister?

67 answers· 44 grouped into themes

Affordable housing and social assistance

Affordable housing and social assistance

12 of 44 grouped responses (27%)

Respondents emphasize the need for immediate action to address the housing and homelessness crisis, by increasing the supply of affordable housing and strengthening social services. They propose concrete measures such as rent control, the creation of social housing, the rehabilitation of vacant buildings, and the improvement of access to physical and mental health care. Some also stress the importance of fighting poverty and exclusion by limiting the rise in prices of basic necessities.

Representative testimony
A massive investment to manage the homelessness crisis (in housing, social services, support resources, etc.)

Automatically translated from French

In your opinion, what should we do differently in Quebec?

67 answers· 58 grouped into themes

Accessible health without language barriers

Accessible health without language barriers

15 of 58 grouped responses (26%)

Respondents emphasize the need to improve the health system, by offering various solutions such as a 100% public system, more doctors, and structural reforms. They also criticise language barriers, believing that they hinder integration and access to services, and call for a more inclusive and less restrictive approach to language, especially for foreign professionals and English speakers.

Representative testimony
Make it more welcoming to all - removing language and cultural barriers.

What will Quebec need the most in the coming years?

66 answers· 48 grouped into themes

Effective resource management

Effective resource management

14 of 48 grouped responses (29%)

Respondents emphasize the need for Quebec to improve its productivity and efficiency by investing in key sectors such as clean energy, innovation, education and sustainable infrastructure. They emphasize the importance of better managing public resources, reducing costs, and promoting economic development while protecting the environment. Some also mention the need to modernise the economy, strengthen public management and promote a long-term vision for societal and economic development.

Representative testimony
Better manage public funds in order to eliminate waste. Make choices in the measures that make up the social safety net that we no longer have the means to finance, or increase taxes.

Automatically translated from French

What could really improve your daily life?

66 answers· 55 grouped into themes

Reducing the cost of living

Reducing the cost of living

10 of 55 grouped responses (18%)

Respondents point out that reducing the cost of living, in particular through lower prices for groceries and local products, as well as controlling inflation, would significantly improve their daily lives. They express the need for financial stability and less worries about current expenses, such as housing and food.

Representative testimony
Stop worrying about the cost of living

Automatically translated from French

What is approximately your annual household income before taxes?

67 answers
Under $30,000 0 (0%)
$30,000 to $49,999 4 (6%)
$50,000 to $74,999 4 (6%)
$75,000 to $99,999 12 (17.9%)
$100,000 to $149,999 12 (17.9%)
$150,000 to $199,999 14 (20.9%)
Over $200,000 21 (31.3%)

Other concerns raised

At the end of the consultation, participants could share anything else on their mind — including topics beyond the main subject. Their comments are summarized below.

Active citizen consultation

5 grouped comments

Respondents expressed their gratitude for the consultation initiative and emphasized the importance of better listening to and integrating citizen opinions. Some suggested more interactive and inclusive ways to gather opinions, such as recorded discussions, to better reflect the diversity of voices and reduce perceived biases. They also mentioned the importance of transparency and the reuse of opinion trends to inform future decisions.

Would be great to have a closer pulse to what is actually happening; think NYC Mayor Mandani. Real time changes from the public opinion pulse. If you have trends re-use them in the Polaire Consulation so we (the people) can see and understand what is top of mind.

Methodology

This consultation was open from September 11, 2026 to October 5, 2026.

Residents could participate online or by leaving a voice message during this time. All messages were shared confidentially in accordance with Polaire's privacy policy.

The open-ended responses were grouped into topics using artificial intelligence, which read all the responses and gathered similar ideas. You can learn more about how responses are processed by artificial intelligence by browsing our FAQ.

Participants could also share anything else at the end of the consultation, including topics beyond the main topic; these comments appear under “other concerns raised.”

Limitations

The total number of respondents (70) is relatively low, which could limit the representativeness of the results. The dissemination of the consultation, carried out through limited channels - LinkedIn, word-of-mouth - induces representation biases, which can overrepresent certain segments of the population to the detriment of others.

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About Polaire

Polaire is a citizen-engagement platform that helps cities and public bodies listen to their residents at scale. It gathers contributions by text or voice and uses artificial intelligence to turn large volumes of feedback into clear, reliable insights for decision-makers. Contributions are quoted without their authors' names, participants' personal information stays confidential, and everything is handled transparently, in keeping with the Montréal Declaration on Responsible AI.