--- title: "Québec solidaire candidates report surge in online hate ahead of provincial election" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/quebec-solidaire-candidates-report-surge-in-online-hate-ahead-of-provincial-elec" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/quebec-solidaire-candidates-report-surge-in-online-hate-ahead-of-provincial-elec" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/quebec-solidaire-candidates-report-surge-in-online-hate-ahead-of-provincial-elec.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/quebec-solidaire-candidates-report-surge-in-online-hate-ahead-of-provincial-elec" category: "Politics" published: "2026-08-08T16:05:27.317Z" source_reported: "2026-08-08T15:14:06.000Z" updated: "2026-08-08T17:00:34.347Z" trust_score: 56 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-08T18:15:14.698161+00:00" --- # Québec solidaire candidates report surge in online hate ahead of provincial election *LGBTQ+ candidates from multiple parties say homophobic threats and slurs have intensified in recent weeks* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 56 of 100, higher is better. Includes named sources like Roxane Milot and Philippe Schnobb, but lacks multiple independent reports. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Provides quotes, context and clear structure, linking hate messages to candidate deterrence. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Language is measured; no sensationalism beyond headline. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Québec solidaire says its LGBTQ+ candidates are facing an “exceptional” wave of online hate ahead of the 2026 provincial election. - Parti Québécois candidate Philippe Schnobb reports receiving homophobic threats, including a comment referencing a “2×4”. - All major parties acknowledge the problem, but none of the right-rated outlets in the sample carried the story. - The reports agree that the surge coincides with Pride month celebrations across Quebec. LGBTQ+ candidates running in Quebec’s provincial election say they are facing a surge of online hate, including threats and slurs. Québec solidaire, a left-wing party, describes the volume as “exceptional” and “alarming”. Party president Roxane Milot, who is bisexual and running in a Montreal riding, says she has personally received hateful messages on social media. Philippe Schnobb, a Parti Québécois candidate in the same riding, says he regularly receives homophobic remarks. One comment on his social media posts included a threat referencing a “2×4”. Schnobb, who identifies as part of the sexual and gender-diverse community, says the abuse has intensified since he entered politics in January 2026. He has not taken legal action. The reports agree that the surge coincides with Pride month celebrations across Quebec. Liberal Leader Charles Milliard, who is gay, has also faced homophobic remarks, including during a February interview when he was asked if Quebecers were ready to elect a gay premier. Milliard responded that every Quebecer has the right to vote and that he would not hide who he is. Parties say they have adapted to the rise in online violence. Québec solidaire has set up support groups and remote assistance for affected candidates. The Liberal Party offers training sessions to help candidates handle violent situations. Coalition Avenir Québec says it monitors candidates’ social media accounts and deplores such attacks. ## Who covered it Shares of the 16 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 56% (9) - Centre: 44% (7) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-08T18:15:14.698161+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 11 times; 2 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-08T18:45:14.352Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The five left-rated digests all led on the surge in online hate targeting LGBTQ+ candidates. They carried the claim by Québec solidaire that the volume is “exceptional” and “alarming”, and the detail that party president Roxane Milot has personally received hateful messages. The digests also included the homophobic threat referencing a “2×4” directed at Parti Québécois candidate Philippe Schnobb. - La Presse, the only left-rated outlet whose full report is printed, quoted Milot saying the situation is “getting worse by the day in Quebec” and that online violence deters marginalised people from entering politics. It also reported that Québec solidaire candidate Vanessa Durand withdrew after making hateful remarks against Parti Québécois supporters from LGBTQ+ communities. - None of the right-rated outlets in the sample carried the story. The digests from left and centre outlets did not mention the specific number of messages received by candidates or whether any police reports had been filed. The full reports from Medicine Hat News and La Presse did not include responses from the Quebec Conservative Party beyond confirming that its leader, Éric Duhaime, has received hateful comments online. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports agree that Québec solidaire candidates and other LGBTQ+ political figures in Quebec reported a surge in online hate ahead of the provincial election. All five outlets carried the party’s statement that the volume of abuse was “exceptional” and “alarming”. - Medicine Hat News and Battlefords NOW, whose full reports are printed below, led on the personal accounts of Québec solidaire president Roxane Milot and Parti Québécois candidate Philippe Schnobb. Both described receiving homophobic messages and threats on social media. Schnobb’s report of a commenter saying a “2×4 is waiting for you” was included in both articles. - The two full reports also noted that Québec solidaire candidate Vanessa Durand withdrew after posting hateful remarks about Parti Québécois supporters from LGBTQ+ communities. Neither the Winnipeg Free Press, L’actualité, nor Ckpg Today digests mentioned Durand’s withdrawal or Schnobb’s specific threats. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 13 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [City News](https://montreal.citynews.ca/2026/08/08/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Le Devoir](https://ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/1000721/vague-inquietante-haine-ligne-contre-candidats-lgbtq-quebec) — "Certain" Online Hate Campaign Against LGBTQ+ Candidates at the... - [Le Charlevoisien](https://lecharlevoisien.com/2026/08/08/vague-inquietante-de-haine-en-ligne-contre-les-candidats-2elgbtqi-au-quebec) — "Certain" Online Hate Campaign Against 2ELGBTQI+ Candidates in Quebec - [CBC News](https://cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/2slgbtq-political-candidates-quebec-9.7300655) — 2SLGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate-12643825) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Elora Fergus Today](https://elorafergustoday.com/national-news/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate-12643825) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate-12643825) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate-12643825) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/08/08/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/canada/quebec/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate/article_20e1c296-c6e2-5a63-b41e-cd219024fa29.html) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate-12643825) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/08/08/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/08/08/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [La Presse](https://lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2026-08-08/elections-provinciales/vague-de-haine-en-ligne-contre-les-candidats-2elgbtqi.php) — Provincial Elections: Online Hate Wave Against Candidates 2ELGBTQI+ - [L’actualité](https://lactualite.com/actualites/vague-inquietante-de-haine-en-ligne-contre-les-candidats-2elgbtqi-au-quebec) — "Certain" Online Hate Campaign Against 2ELGBTQI+ Candidates in Quebec - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/canada/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate/article_20de0fc4-fbad-5472-914d-31fb6b6cb192.html) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2026/08/08/lgbtq-political-candidates-in-quebec-report-a-wave-of-online-hate) — LGBTQ+ political candidates in Quebec report a wave of online hate ## Questions **Which parties reported the surge in online hate?** Québec solidaire and Parti Québécois candidates reported the surge. Québec solidaire described the volume as “exceptional” and “alarming”, while Parti Québécois candidate Philippe Schnobb said he regularly receives homophobic threats, including one referencing a “2×4”. The Liberal Party and Coalition Avenir Québec also acknowledged the problem. **Did any right-rated outlet cover the story?** No. None of the right-rated outlets in the sample carried the story. The reports were published by left and centre-rated outlets, including Medicine Hat News, La Presse, and five digests from local left-rated publications. **What actions have parties taken in response to the online hate?** Québec solidaire has set up support groups and remote assistance for affected candidates. The Liberal Party offers training sessions to help candidates handle violent situations. Coalition Avenir Québec says it monitors candidates’ social media accounts and deplores such attacks. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/quebec-solidaire-candidates-report-surge-in-online-hate-ahead-of-provincial-elec. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Québec solidaire candidates report surge in online hate ahead of provincial election", https://mediabias.news/politics/quebec-solidaire-candidates-report-surge-in-online-hate-ahead-of-provincial-elec