PQ would ‘unite’ parties in minority government, Lisée says
With three days left in the campaign, the Parti Québécois’s chances of forming a government are somewhere between slim and none.
At least, that’s what the latest polls say. The PQ sits 14 points behind the front-running Coalition Avenir Québec, according to a poll released Friday.
Asked repeatedly about his impending defeat, Jean-François Lisée insisted his party can pull off an upset.
“I’ve seen enough rodeos to say that the possibility of a PQ win is real,” said Lisée, the PQ leader. “It’s clear the PQ is the biggest movement in Quebec. We have deep roots and a membership that’s unrivalled in Quebec.
“I mean we have by far, far, far more members than any other party in the province. Our ability to mobilize our base is unrivalled and on election day that’ll be the difference.”
Lisée has been saying this line — or some version of it — since the beginning of the 39-day campaign. But Friday ’s Ipsos-La PresseGlobal News poll has his party trending in the wrong direction.
The PQ lost two points since the beginning of the week and could actually be overtaken by Québec solidaire on Monday.
Further complicating matters, it’s possible no matter who takes power after the election, they’ll be in charge of a minority government. The PQ’s Pauline Marois won a minority government in 2012. Eighteen months later, she triggered an election. Liberal leader Jean Charest won a minority in 2007 and Quebecers were back at the polls less than two years later.
Lisée has promised that if he does eke out a minority win on Monday, his government would serve a full four-year mandate.
Ahead of the vote, the advocacy group Democracy Watch warned that Quebec’s parties and its lieutenant-governor need to be prepared for a minority government scenario.
Their warning comes after a chaotic election in New Brunswick last week. The Tories and Liberals have 22 and 21 seats respectively, pending recounts, with each party leader demanding the other resign.
Despite not holding a plurality of seats, the New Brunswick Liberals initially asked for permission of the lieutenant-governor to continue governing for six months.
But by Friday it looked like the Tories and People’s Alliance would work together on a bill-by-bill basis for at least 18 months.
Without a clear plan in place, Democracy Watch warns of potential problems in Quebec. The group asked the party leaders to abide by a set of principles to ensure an efficient and democratic transfer of power.
“I agree entirely with (Democracy Watch) but at this point it’s up to the lieutenant-governor to set the tone,” said Lisée.
“I can tell you this, the PQ will not try to form coalitions or get around the will of the people.”
Until Friday Lisée wouldn’t even entertain a scenario where his party didn’t win the election. The PQ leader said he’d work with his rivals so that they see their vision of Quebec reflected in PQ bills and budgets.
“I could even see a scenario where other parties put bills forward,” Lisée said. “That’s democracy.”
But as reality sets in, the PQ leader said that, even in defeat, he’ll work “to unify the parties.”
“It’s in my nature to unite,” he said. “I’ll have an open mind in every scenario.”
That is, of course, assuming Lisée is still the PQ leader after the election.
For now, the PQ leader says he’s singularly focused on getting out the vote ahead of Monday. Lisée visited ridings in Sherbrooke, Acton Vale, Hochelaga-Maisonneuve and in downtown Montreal Friday.
By the time the campaign is done, his bus will have travelled some 10,000 kilometres across the province.
“I’m having fun, no matter what, I’m in the thick of it and that’s where I love to be.”