Coalition party forms majority government, ending province’s two-party rule in Quebec
MONTREAL — Quebecers charted a new course for their province Monday by giving the seven-year-old Coalition Avenir Quebec a majority mandate in an election result that could create waves beyond its borders.
Quebec, Canada’s second most-populous province, has joined the even bigger province of Ontario in voting for change following about 15 years of Liberal governments.
In doing so, the right-leaning Coalition shattered nearly a half-century of twoparty political rule in Quebec with a majority government that will redraw the province’s electoral map.
The party was elected or leading in 73 of the province’s 125 ridings, compared with 32 for the incumbent Liberals.
Coalition Leader Francois Legault guided his troops to victory following a 39-day campaign, during which he urged Quebecers to support him as the candidate for change.
The win delivered something Quebec hasn’t seen in 48 years — a provincial government headed by a party other than the Liberals or the Parti Quebecois.
In terms of popular support, the Coalition had about 38 per cent, compared with about 25 per cent for the Liberals.
Legault’s party surged out to a strong start shortly after polls closed, leaving the Liberals in second and the PQ in a distant third, barely ahead of Quebec solidaire.
With support for independence sliding, the PQ is now facing an existential crisis. The party has steadily watched its backing slide after spending about 20 of the last 48 years in office.
To be considered an official party, the PQ needed either 20 per cent of the popular vote on Monday or 12 seats. With about 17 per cent and 10 seats, it looked as though it would get neither.
The numbers began flowing in following a tightly fought campaign that many had predicted would shake up the political landscape. It was more like an earthquake. Legault, a former businessman and co-founder of Air Transat, won his riding of L’Assomption, while Quebec solidaire co-spokespeople Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois and Manon Masse were both elected in their Montreal ridings.
Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard salvaged some pride by being elected in Roberval, about 250 kilometres north of Quebec City, while PQ Leader JeanFrancois Lisee suffered a double blow by also losing his Montreal riding.
That prompted Lisee to announce his resignation in his post-election speech.
In his concession speech, Couillard said he would take a few days to ponder his political future.
“I wish his government all the success that Quebec deserves — despite our significant differences of opinion, we are all Quebecers,” he said after congratulating Legault on his victory.
“We must stay united — we are stronger united.”
It’s unclear what Legault’s win will mean for Quebec’s relationship with Ottawa.
Couillard, a staunch federalist, had smooth relations with Trudeau’s Liberals.
But there have already been signs of potential friction between Legault, a former sovereigntist and PQ cabinet minister, and the federal government.
Last week, a recording of Legault’s wife, Isabelle Brais, captured her telling a party meeting last month that while Trudeau’s father, former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was “brilliant,” his son is not.
She described the younger Trudeau as incompetent and suggested a Coalition government could have strained ties with his federal government. Brais later apologized.
Legault declined to say whether he endorsed his wife’s comments about the prime minister, saying she’s “an independent woman who has her opinions, who is spontaneous, who apologized.”
Trudeau issued a statement Monday to offer his “sincere congratulations” to Legault on the win.