Quebec elects minority Parti Quebecois government

The CBC(Canadian Broadcasting System) has just predicted that the province of Quebec will have a PQ(Parti Quebois) minority government with the first female premier of the province, Pauline Marois.

A number of ridings are still to close to call but as of this poisting the results were as follows. The Parti Quebecois was leading in 56 ridings, the Quebec Liberals 47, and CAQ 20, and Quebec Solidaire 2. The Parti Quebecois is a separatist party.

Polls show that only 28% of Quebec residents support Quebec independence at present. This means that there is unlikely to be a referendum on the question in the near future as some separatist hardliners might wish.

However Marois is likely to ask for more powers from the federal government in certain areas. The Conservative government of Stephen Harper is very unpopular in Quebec. If Marois is unsuccessful in negotiating with Harper she may use this as an argument in favor of separation.

The Liberals did better than the last polls indicated and the CAQ did not do as well. Many voters were undecided until the very last and must have opted to vote Liberal to keep try to keep the PQ from forming a government even though the Liberal government is not at all popular. As I post this the Liberal leader Jean Charest was losingin his own riding.However the race was too close to call.

The PQ hoped to get a majority so that it could pass its program but now it will have to shelve anything that is controversial. The CAQ is a relatively right wing party and not committed to separatism. The whole idea of holding a referendum in the near future will no doubt be shelved.

The CAQ did not get as many seats as it had hoped. In fact with voters disliking both Liberals and PQ and the corruption in Quebec politics they even dreamed of forming their own minority government. However for a party that is less than a year old they did quite well.

Quebec Solidaire is a left leaning separatiste party. It managed to double its seats from one to two, so they were happy enough with their performance. No doubt many anglophones will be upset with the PQ winning. However, with a minority the PQ will not be able to do much to disturb the status quo in Quebec and any separatist moves will be on the back burner for now.

CAQ second to PQ in Quebec election polls. Liberals in third!

As voting day nears in the Quebec provincial election, the Liberal Party led by Quebec Premier Jean Charest is running in third place in an August 24th poll. The separatist Parti Quebecois remains in first place.

Voters in Quebec go the polls September 4 to elect a new provincial government. An August 24th poll by Leger Marketing showed the Parti Quebecois (PQ) leading with 33 per cent of the vote. The newer party the CAQ(Coalition Avenir Quebec) has overtaken the ruling Liberal Party with 28% and the Liberals were third with 27%. The trend seems to be favoring the CAQ as both Liberal and the PQ seem to be losing votes to the CAQ.

The CAQ party leader Francois Legault is playing down the whole idea of a referendum on Quebec independence. Legault claims he is a nationalist rather than a sovereigntist or federalist meaning that he neither supports independence for Quebec nor does he support a federalist government. The first is the position of the PQ and the second of the ruling Liberal Party. Only 45% of Quebecers in an Angus Reid poll believe Legault would oppose sovereignty. Legault was a minister in a former PQ government before leaving the party.

Charest continually warns voters that to vote for CAQ is the same as voting PQ. Legault has said he would vote "no" if there is a third referendum. Legault promises to keep the issue on the backburner for a decade if his party wins the election. Legault promises that if elected:

“I will defend neither sovereignty nor Canadian unity.”

While a somewhat negative promise no doubt it is meant to distinguish his position from that of the Liberals and the PQ. Legault's tactics seem to be working. The CAQ has attracted up to a quarter of those who voted Liberal last election and even 15% from the PQ. The PQ is holding on to more of their voters than the Liberals.

Legault did well in a debate with the other two leaders according to many. He also echoed Obama's successful slogan "Yes, we can." by insisting "We can do it." Legault is critical of the power of Quebec unions. He is likely to capture right wing votes even among anglophones.

Jean Charest fights back in Quebec election debates

Down in the polls, Quebec Premier Jean Charest came out swinging in the leaders' debate last night. He claimed that the PQ (Parti Quebecois) main objective was to separate from Canada,. He also pointed out that a past PQ government was corrupt.

Charest took an aggressive stance against his opponents. A skilled debater, Charest tried to neutralize constant attacks upon his own government for corruption by pointing out that in 2006 a report found that the PQ had acted illegally in its financing activities. Charest's Liberal government is plagued by corruption charges especially in the Quebec construction industry. Charest also pressed hard on the sovereignty issue trying to portray the PQ and leader Pauline Marois as wanting to hold a referendum on sovereignty as quickly as she can. The PQ is leading at present in the polls.

Ironically Marois tried to steer clear of the sovereignty issue. She was criticized not just by Charest but by another separatist party the left-leaning Quebec Solidaire.co-leader Francoise David:

“What I can’t understand is why you can’t clearly commit to a public consultation to define how you plan on achieving sovereignty,."

Marois no doubt realizes that there is more concern with jobs and the economy of Quebec among voters than independence for the province. She is not anxious to hold a referendum that she could very well lose.

While Jean Charest predicted he would be the target of all the opposition parties he shared that status with the Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The PQ leader in particular promised that she would stand up for Quebec against the federal government and gain more power for Quebec. Marois chastised both the leader of the CAQ and Charest

:“I won’t get on my knees like Mr. Charest has done and abandon the fight against Ottawa as [Coalition Avenir Québec Leader François] Legault has done..I will fight for the interests of Quebec.”

The PQ promises that it will seek transfer of more powers from the federal government to the province if elected. The party wants power to regulate immigration as well as unemployment insurance. If the federal government refuses to transfer the powers the PQ will use this as an argument that Quebec should become independent.

Charest faces not just his usual rival the PQ this election but also the Coalition Avenir Quebec a party that trails the Liberals only slightly in the polls. The party is led by a former PQ cabinet minister Francois Legault. The party is regarded by many as an alternative to the two old line parties who many see as corrupt. The Liberals appear to be losing votes to the party among non-francophone voters. This could create problems for Charest and help the PQ win. However Legault lacks charisma and some thought he would not do too well in the debates.

Legault however seemed to hold his own in the debate. He made cogent points against Charest's economic record pointing out that during Charest's tenure Quebec disposable income per person went from fourth place to ninth place with only the tiny province of Prince Edward Island being lower. Charest has been touting his economic record as a reason to re-elect him. Charest in the exchange was able to catch Legault off guard when he asked if Quebeckers were richer today than when Legault's former party was in power. Legault admitted that they were. Even though this is hardly relevant since Legault is not part of the PQ now it no doubt may have helped Charest fend off the attack.

Almost twenty per cent of voters are undecided. Three parties remain relatively close in the polls although the PQ has a definite lead. There will be three more debates with one on one debates with leaders. Quebec Solidaire with just one seat in the legislature will not be in those debates.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/331156#ixzz246LL4yAb

Quebec election debate tonight August 19

The Quebec provincial election is set for September 4. With the campaign now half way through there is to be a key debate between leaders tonight (Aug 19) The ruling Liberal Party lead by premier Jean Charest is trailing in the polls.

The CBC(Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) will carry the debate from 8 PM to 10 PM eastern time. The debate will also be available on line at CBCNews.ca. The debate will be in French with English translation.

At dissolution of the provincial legislature on August 1st the ruling Quebec Liberals had 64 seats, the Parti Quebecois 47, the Coaltion Avenir Quebec 9 and Quebec Solidair 1. Recent polls show the Liberals trailing the PQ(Parti Quebecois)

An August 16 poll by Leger Marketing show the Liberals with 28%, the PQ with 33% and the up and coming CAQ(Coalition Avenir Quebec) with 27%. Quebec Solidaire has 6%. A bid by another party Option Nationale to take part in the debates failed as a court did not support their injunction to force the stations involved to include their leader.

Jean Charest of the Liberals claims he will be the target of the opposition groups:

"I will be the target. There's no doubt about that...You know that. I know that. I have have been the target for the last four years, frankly, and that's what this debate will be about, so we'll just have to deal with it."

Although the general public supported Charest's raising of tuition fees that caused lengthy strikes and demonstrations by Quebec students many opposed the bill that imposed strict conditions on demonstrations and heavy penalties for breaking them. However, much criticism of Charest claims widespread corruption in the government especially in relation to the construction industry.

Charest in the past has triumphed in some debates. In 2003 after a debate with PQ leader Bernard Landry his poll numbers rose and he managed election in spite of predictions he would lose.

Francois Legault leader of the CAQ has less experience than the other two main party leaders will face a stiff test of his political skills. He is not known for his oratory and sometimes has had to take back statements he has made. However the party is doing well in the polls just behind the ruling Liberals. Quebec Solidaire a leftist party will have a chance to raise its profile.

Liberals heading for minority govt. in Quebec?

THe ADQ certainly seems to be giving the PQ and Liberals a real battle. As for the referendum it surely would be disastrous for the PQ to hold a referendum at this point in time.


PQ minority could hold referendum
Boisclair says `democratic authority' would exist even without a majority

Mar 17, 2007 04:30 AM
Sean Gordon
Quebec Bureau Chief

MONTREAL–With a new poll pointing to an increasing likelihood of a minority government, Parti Québécois Leader André Boisclair said yesterday he would still have the legitimacy to hold a sovereignty referendum even if he wins by the slimmest of margins.

At a campaign stop in the Gaspé region of eastern Quebec, Boisclair said "of course" when asked if he would have the democratic authority to propose a referendum even if his party only won with a simple plurality of votes.

But he refused to go into greater detail, saying "you're asking me to speculate. I think we're going to have a majority PQ government."

Later in the evening, on a flight to the Magdalen Islands, Boisclair nuanced his comments by telling reporters, "I never raised the eventuality of a minority government – we will win a majority government."

Action démocratique du Québec Leader Mario Dumont scoffed at the possibility of a referendum in the case of a minority government, saying "anyone who follows politics has understood there will not be a referendum during the next mandate. That much is clear."

A new Léger Marketing poll this week, that places the PQ, Liberals and ADQ in a statistical tie, gives weight to the prospect of a minority government.

The poll also showed the Liberals trail the PQ and ADQ by 10 percentage points among francophone voters with nine days to go before the March 26 vote.

Liberal Premier Jean Charest was loath to even utter the word "minority" as he made a campaign stop in the eastern Quebec city of Rimouski, sticking to his standard response that he refuses to comment on polls.

"I have a very good feeling about this election campaign ... We will have a Liberal majority government," he said.

Dumont said he wouldn't read too much into the poll, which also reports that almost 70 per cent of respondents expect a minority government, and more than 60 per cent believe Charest will lead it.

But for the time being, the momentum is behind Dumont and Boisclair, who have narrowed the gap with the front-running Charest in recent days.

The ADQ leader said he isn't interested in forming a coalition in the event of a minority.

"In the case where we don't have a majority government, the one with the most seats makes the decisions that need to be made, and must find, on each policy matter, allies to act in the best interests of the population," he said.

The Léger poll, released late Thursday, showed the Liberals at 33 per cent support, and the PQ and ADQ with 30 per cent apiece. The survey contacted 1,000 people and is considered accurate within 3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.