Quebec's extended election campaign formally began on Thursday.
The 39-day election campaign is the longest allowed by electoral law.
Liberal leader Philippe Couillard is seeking a second term as Premier, but recent opinion polls have placed Coalition Avenir Quebec in first place, followed by the Liberals, then the PQ with Quebec Solidaire behind the PQ.
Here are some facts and figures about the Quebec general election, which is scheduled for Oct. 1:
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Major parties: Liberal Party of Quebec, Coalition Avenir Quebec, Parti Quebecois, Quebec solidaire
Total number of registered political parties: 21
Party leaders: Philippe Couillard (Liberals); Francois Legault (CAQ); Jean-Francois Lisee (PQ), Manon Masse/Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois (co-spokespersons, Quebec Solidaire)
Party slogans: "Pour faciliter la vie des Quebecois" (Liberals), "Maintenant" (CAQ), "Serieusement" (PQ), "Populaires" (Quebec Solidaire)
Ridings: 125
Standings at dissolution of legislature: Liberals, 68; PQ, 28; Coalition, 21; Quebec solidaire, 3; Independents: 5
Number of leaders' debates: (Radio-Canada, Sept. 13; CBC, Sept. 17; TVA, Sept. 20) -- the four major political parties will take part in a 90-minute televised English debate on the evening of September 17, which will air on CJAD 800.
Major campaign issues: health care, immigration, labour shortages, education, jobs, economy, secularism
Last provincial election: April 7, 2014
Number of eligible voters in 2014: 6,012,440
Number of eligible voters who voted in 2014: 4,295,055
Voter participation in 2014: 71.43 per cent
-With files from CTV Montreal