Housing affordability: an election issue striking a particularly strong chord with young Quebecers

With voters heading to the polls next week, housing concerns are top of mind for many Quebecers. According to a recent Royal LePage^® survey, conducted by Burson,¹ more than a third (35%) of adults in the province of Quebec rank housing supply and affordability in the top three ballot box issues this provincial election. Not surprisingly, that figure is even higher among the youngest voters, jumping to 45% of Gen Z Quebecers. 

According to the survey, housing issues are also top of mind for those who do not currently own a home. Among renters, 58% of respondents say that housing supply and affordability ranks in the top three major issues, compared to just 19% of homeowners. 

“The results of this survey confirm that housing-related concerns are shaping how young Quebecers plan to vote, and that is telling about the future they see for themselves,” said Dominic St-Pierre, senior vice president of business development, Royal LePage. “If affording a home – whether owned or rented – feels increasingly out of reach, it could impact how members of our youngest generation approach major life decisions when planning for the future.”

Voters have several other major concerns which could define the outcome of this provincial election. When asked to identify the most important issues they’d like to see prioritized by the next Quebec government, the cost of living and inflation is ranked as the number one issue (74%), followed by healthcare and social services (68%). 

Cost of living and inflation voters’ top election issue

When asked which election issues were most important overall, 42% of voters selected housing, after the rising cost of living (78%), healthcare (73%) and education (45%). Quebecers are also concerned about government spending (38%), environmental issues (32%) and language and culture (30%). Respondents could select more than one answer to this question.

“These results reflect a broader reality: no provincial election is decided by a single issue, and this one, playing out against a backdrop of ongoing international trade tensions and economic uncertainty, is no exception. Housing, however, remains a significant factor for voters,” noted St-Pierre. 

Housing policy has been a central topic of discussion during the leaders’ debates throughout this campaign. When asked if a party or candidate’s position on tackling the current housing supply and affordability crisis will influence their vote in the upcoming election, 42% of all respondents said yes. Once again, the youngest voters skewed higher than the provincial average, with 66% of Gen Z answering yes. Overall, 36% of voters say it will not influence their vote, while 22% are unsure or prefer not to say. 

Rental costs a major concern 

Across Canada, the province of Quebec has, by far, the highest proportion of renters. And, housing is an important ballot box issue for this segment of the population. When asked which provincial housing issue is of greatest concern, 47% of renters in Quebec selected annual rent increases, followed by finding an affordable rental property (25%).

“Shelter is a basic necessity, and for a large share of Quebecers – particularly renters and young voters – a party’s commitment to tackling housing affordability will matter when they cast their ballots. Whoever is elected to lead the province for the next four years will be tasked with ensuring that the housing needs of Quebecers are attainable long-term,” concluded St-Pierre.  

Review the data chart for more information and generational insights:

Quebec residents head to the polls on October 5th. You can read about each major political party’s election platform here: Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), Parti Québécois (PQ), Québec Solidaire (QS), Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ).

1 Burson used the Leger Opinion online panel to survey 1,000 residents of Quebec aged 18+. The survey was completed between September 2nd and September 9th, 2026. Weighting was applied to ensure representation at an age, gender and regions of Quebec, based on 2021 census figures. No margin of error can be associated with a non-probability sample (i.e., a web panel in this case). For comparative purposes, though, a probability sample of 1,000 respondents would have a margin of error of ±3%, 19 times out of 20.