CAQ to ‘work harder’ for vote

We need to garner more support from women: Legault

L’ASSOMPTION — François Legault was giddy Thursday, after a CROP poll confirmed his feeling his Coalition Avenir Québec is picking up support from Quebecers who can’t warm to Jean Charest’s Liberals or the Parti Québécois of Pauline Marois.

But he also realizes his party must win support from Quebec women.

“You can see in the polls that support for the Coalition is stronger among men than women.

“All that tells me is that I have to work harder to convince women. I will do it.

“I see, like you, there is a gap,” he said. “We have to explain to them that the changes we are proposing are possible. Change brings a worrying period.”

At a discussion with voters on Coalition education plans, Maggie Hilaire, a special-education teacher with the English Montreal School Board, asked Legault to explain why he wants to abolish school boards.

With his wife at his side, he turned to her and in English said: “OK. You want to answer that, my chérie? She lived in Toronto for four years. Her English is better than mine.”

Isabelle Brais brushed off the request with a “nice try,” gesture.

“The Liberal Party is trying to scare anglophones about this proposal,” Legault told Hilaire, explaining the CAQ would replace Quebec’s 60 French school boards with 30 service centres, but for the English side, the nine elected board would be replaced by nine service centres.

“I asked that question to see what he has to say,” Hilaire said. Asked what she thought of his answer, Hiliare said: “I don’t know.”