Latest news with #PQ
Montreal Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Libman: Referendum pledge puts PQ leader in a bind
Last week's Léger poll on provincial sovereignty in Canada contained an eye-popping revelation: Among all provinces, Quebec had the greatest proportion of respondents 'opposed' to separation, at 59 per cent. Support for sovereignty was tagged at 33 per cent, near where it's been hovering for years. It's lower than support in Manitoba/Saskatchewan and well behind the 41 per cent in Alberta. Ontario was at 31 per cent. Having the highest number against sovereignty was explained by the fact that most Quebecers are already decided on the question, while in other provinces there were more who didn't answer. With a Quebec election next year, this is a warning light on Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's dashboard, putting him in a tight spot. After the separatist party suffered its worst defeat in its history, reduced to just three seats, PSPP had to consolidate the PQ base — and he defiantly committed to holding a sovereignty referendum in his first term if elected. Despite being numerically marginalized in the National Assembly, the PQ MNAs were able to generate catchy headlines, like refusing to swear allegiance to the King in the oath of office, which was subsequently changed. As voters grew weary of François Legault and his Coalition Avenir Québec government, combined with a weakened and leaderless Liberal party, the PQ suddenly found itself leading in polls as the default option where Quebecers were parking their vote, and has led ever since. The commitment to a sovereignty referendum, however, could become the PQ's biggest hurdle in transforming its current lead into a victory in next year's election. We're entering an unpredictable political maze now in Quebec, with polls containing many ifs, ands or buts: The CAQ is seemingly in free fall. Will Legault be pushed to resign, with the hope for a momentous turnaround like the federal Liberals? The Quebec Liberal Party support among francophone voters is only 10 per cent. Will its new leader — to be chosen in two weeks — be able to change that? The PQ leads the polls with 33 per cent support, but 30 per cent of its own voters are against separation — and only 24 per cent of Quebecers think PSPP would make the best premier. PSPP has had a fairly easy ride so far in opposition, left free to launch his attacks. But as federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has learned, that's different from positioning yourself as leader of a government. And the leadership question will only draw more attention as the election comes into sharper focus. Just last week PSPP was on the defensive for taking the populist position that Quebec should lower its carbon pricing — then was pressured to answer to environmental concerns and where he would account for the $1.5-billion shortfall in government revenues. PSPP generated more headlines this week with a motion calling to cut ties with the monarchy, criticizing what many saw as an archaic spectacle in Ottawa and ridiculing the notion that having King Charles read the throne speech would impress U.S. President Donald Trump as an expression of Canadian sovereignty. Many, particularly Quebecers, believe that clinging to the monarchy is a wasteful expense in this day and age. But calling the monarchy hostile toward Quebec and francophones, which PSPP also levelled at Mark Carney, comes across as foolish rhetorical excess. In the recent federal election, a majority of Quebec voters saw Carney as the adult in the room. They want stability and poise during these uncertain times with Trump in the White House. The turbulent prospect of another Quebec sovereignty referendum would bring the opposite. Once chosen, the next Quebec Liberal leader should immediately start hounding PSPP on if and when he would call a referendum, which most Quebecers decidedly don't want. Will he back down, or will the PQ's raison d'être again become its biggest obstacle to power?
Montreal Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Freed: The King, the Donald and the future of Quebec
The big surprise about our visit from the 'King of Canada' was that Quebecers didn't care. Sure, the usual nationalist suspects went on about the 'insult to democracy.' But most Quebecers yawned and shrugged. In short, they acted like Canadians, 83 per cent of whom said they 'didn't care' about King Charles's visit (while Quebecers polled 90 per cent). In fact, most Canadians would like to dump the monarchy. But for that we'd have to reopen the dreaded Constitution: a Pandora's box that would quickly have every province demanding something in exchange. Alberta would want a pipeline in every home, Quebec the exclusive world rights to the words 'distinct' and 'special.' Ontario would demand recognition as the official 'centre of the universe' and B.C. a guarantee it can keep complaining about housing prices, while sipping $8 lattes. Negotiations would continue until shortly after the death of the universe. So instead of going there, we all just shrugged at the King's visit. But the francophone shrug seems part of a larger recent shrug about Quebec nationalism in general. How? Let's connect some dots. First dot: In the recent election, Quebecers single-handedly saved the Liberals. They saw the only election issue as TrumpAmerica, with a Carney-united strong Canada as their best defence. That's why Quebec originally joined Canada. As Father-of-Confederation George-Étienne Cartier put it, 'Quebec must join' Confederation 'or be absorbed' by America. For proof Cartier was right, visit New England, where you'll see names like Lavoy (formerly Lavoie), Wallet (Ouellet) and Packet (Paquette). Their owners often don't know their names were once French. As Quebecers grow closer to Canada, it's a bad time to promise a Quebec referendum, as PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon keeps doing. In a recent poll, even one-third of PQ voters said they were 'not in favour' of Quebec sovereignty. Let alone young Quebecers. In another recent poll, 80 per cent of francophones under 35 were 'proud to live in Canada,' while young people in English Canada polled 74 per cent. Young Quebecers are now bigger Canadian nationalists than young English Canadians. The only place separatism is rising is Alberta. Will young Québécois someday fly en masse to Calgary, waving maple leafs and begging Albertans to stay in Canada? So what's behind these changes? Second dot: Recent generations of Quebecers have lived different experiences than their nationalist elders. Their parents and grandparents felt kept down by English Canada and some may still hold a grudge, including our premier. But younger Quebecers have grown up with francophones running Quebec (while we anglos feel like a threatened minority). These young francophones have no personal resentment pushing them toward independence. They don't even have any interest in it. Many travel and work in Canada, especially out West, and feel as comfortable there as I did at their age. Like young people everywhere, they also love the English-dominated internet, video games and Taylor Swift, but they also love popular French Quebec shows like La Voix. You can see how older nationalists might worry about this dual attachment. As a woman at a French book launch told me: 'I'm much less nationalist than when I was young, but my three kids — forget it! If I even say the word independence, they think I'm a fossil.' I sometimes wonder if the urgency some older nationalists feel for sovereignty is because they don't trust their kids to follow. It's easier for cabinet ministers to beat up on English guitar-string labels than tell their kids to stop speaking English. Like kids everywhere, they'd probably just do the opposite. Third dot: Recent generations of francophones have gone to school with the whole planet. When I grew up, most immigrants went to English schools because they couldn't get into French Catholic ones. So francophones were rarely exposed to them. But today's post-Bill 101 francophones have shared classes with the world — including students in turbans and hijabs — and you see them all socializing together on The Main at night. Quebec will always have periodic waves of nationalism to protect its language, but currently French is doing well, despite its doomsayers. So younger francophones seem confident about themselves and their language, within Canada. Last dot: All of the above is partly why Quebec Liberals are neck-and-neck with the PQ in polls and way ahead of Legault's CAQ. Quebec sometimes moves in giant swerves, or quiet revolutions — and we may be on the cusp of one, set off bizarrely by, yes, Donald Trump. Still, you can never predict long-term politics (see America), so I'm not making promises. Perhaps an unpopular Legault will quit and be replaced by someone more appealing? Or the PQ will drop its referendum pledge and risk a sovereignist hardliner rebellion? Maybe Trump will suddenly outlaw french fries, french toast and french kisses in America, provoking a new wave of French Quebec nationalism. Who can say, but for now the ground is ripe for another Quebec swerve, perhaps away from independence. Trump has already changed the arc of current Canadian history. He may yet do the same for Quebec, ending an era of 'Le Québec aux Québécois!' and starting one of 'Le Québec pour un Canada Uni!'
Montreal Gazette
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
National Assembly votes to cut ties with British monarchy
Quebec Politics By QUEBEC — On the same day King Charles III delivered a throne speech in Ottawa heaping praise on Canada, the National Assembly Tuesday adopted a motion calling on Quebec to abolish all ties with the monarchy. Presented by Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the motion states that Quebec is the only custodian of the democratic expression of the Quebec people. It notes a majority of Quebecers feel no attachment to the British monarchy and that 'the National Assembly agrees to abolish the link between the Quebec state and the British monarchy.' The motion was adopted without debate. The vote was unanimous with 106 MNAs from the Coalition Avenir Québec government and the other two opposition parties, the Liberals and Québec solidaire, voting in favour of the PQ motion. The vote came on the same day as King Charles III delivered a historic address in the Senate Chamber in Ottawa, quoting the words of the Canadian national anthem. 'The True North is indeed strong and free,' he said to the applause of MPs, Senators and number guests. But at the legislature in Quebec City, the speech was greeted with a mix of indifference and ridicule. 'I didn't listen to it,' Premier François Legault said on his way out of question period in the afternoon. 'I was in meetings.' Simon-Jolin Barrette, the Minister Responsible for Canadian Relations, said the same thing, adding he would listen to it later. But the opposition parties had plenty of opinions on the presence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Canadian soil. 'What a bizarre country Canada is,' Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal said at a news conference. 'To affirm its sovereignty, it believes it is important to bring the monarch of a foreign country here to talk about its priorities.' QS was the first party to propose the abolition of the oath to the monarch MNAs used to have to swear before taking their place in the legislature. In December 2022 a law was adopted making the oath optional after PQ MNAs were briefly barred from sitting because they refused to take the oath. Now QS wants to go further, calling on the CAQ government to put an end to the funding Quebec provides for lieutenant-governor — the king's representative at the legislature — to pay for things like office space, staff and a car and driver. The Quebec budget this year included $758,000 to pay those costs. The salary of the lieutenant-governor is paid by Ottawa. The post is currently occupied by Manon Jeannotte. The day after she was named in December 2023, the National Assembly adopted a motion calling for the post to be abolished. Nothing has happened as a result of that motion because, in reality, the government can't do much about the post in the short term. While much of the job is ceremonial, Quebec laws do not become legal unless they have the royal sanction, which is Jeannotte's job. QS has argued the lieutenant-governor's legal functions could be replaced by an administrator, a move that would require the support of the federal government and the other provinces. Asked about the obstacles ahead, Ghazal insisted the first step is to at least start talking about it. 'People said abolishing the oath would be impossible and yet we got it abolished,' Ghazal said. QS says in the meantime Quebec, on its own, could stop funding the lieutenant-governor's office, a message she recently delivered to Jolin-Barrette who, she said, has taken note of the idea. The CAQ's own 2015 platform called for elimination of the post of lieutenant-governor. St-Pierre Plamondon started into the theme at his morning news conference, laughing off the idea that U.S. President Donald Trump will somehow be influenced by the presence of the king who came to Canada on the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney. '(Carney's) best card is Charles III, a monarch from another country based on a colonial tradition that is oppressive to francophones and First Nations?' St-Pierre Plamondon told reporters. 'It's out there. It's so abnormal. And, of course, from a Quebec standpoint, it's not acceptable. 'If you think or anyone else here thinks that Donald Trump will stop saying things that are either random or hostile to Canada because Charles III was giving a speech today, I don't know what game we're playing right now. It just doesn't make sense.' Interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay, who said he is no fan of the monarchy, noted that abolishing the post requires a Constitutional amendment, which is no small order. 'When I wake up in the morning I am not thinking about King Charles III,' Tanguay said. 'My allegiance is to the people of Quebec.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri Republicans shut down Senate debate to pass abortion ban, repeal sick leave law
Jaeda Roth and other protestors from Abortion Access Missouri unfurl "Stop the Ban" banners as the Missouri Senate passes a proposed constitutional amendment to ban abortion (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Missouri Senate Republicans invoked a rarely used rule Wednesday to shut down a Democratic filibuster blocking a vote on a measure overturning the abortion rights amendment passed by voters in November. That action was immediately followed by another use of the rule, this time to get a bill passed repealing the paid sick leave law that was also approved by voters. The use of the rule — a procedural maneuver known as 'calling the previous question,' or PQ — requires a signed motion from 10 members and forces an immediate vote on the bill under debate. Sen. Adam Schnelting, a Republican from St. Charles, made the motion for a PQ on the abortion amendment shortly after 5 p.m. By 5:30 p.m., that bill, which must be approved by voters on a statewide ballot, had passed. The sick leave repeal followed, and by 6 p.m. both bills were finished. In the hour leading up to the vote, Democrats warned that Republicans were destroying months of good will and could expect no more cooperation this year and well into the future. 'Nothing will happen, nothing,' said Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck. 'The banner year that everybody had in this place? That is over with.' Wednesday's use of the previous question rule is the first time since 2020 when it was invoked and the first time since 2017 when it was used during a regular session. Used regularly in the Missouri House, it is used rarely in the Senate because the chamber has a tradition of unlimited debate and negotiations over difficult issues. 'What we're doing today is a failure of the Senate,' said state Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia. 'And when there's a failure in the Senate, there needs to be a response, and that response can't last forever, but that response has to happen, and it has to be painful, and has to make us all understand that when the Senate doesn't function as a body, we all lose.' Just as Republicans were moving to put an abortion ban on the ballot, protests erupted in the Senate gallery, with abortion-rights activists shouting down lawmakers. The gallery was briefly cleared, including the press, and the Senate continued with its work until it adjourned for the year a few hours later. State Sen. Nick Schroer, a Defiance Republican, said using the PQ is always a last resort. But it was his understanding that 'goal posts were being moved' in negotiations by Democrats. 'I don't know what transpired, but I do know that we hit a log jam,' he said, leaving the PQ as the only way forward to pass the sick leave repeal and abortion ban. The proposed ban seeks to repeal the constitutional right to an abortion but allow exceptions for medical emergencies, fatal fetal anomalies and for survivors of rape and incest in the first 12 weeks of gestation. Missourians could see the question on the November 2026 ballot, or as soon as this year if the governor chose to call a special election on the issue. The proposed ban, if approved by a simple majority of voters, would reinstate several targeted regulations on abortion providers, or TRAP laws, that were recently struck down as unconstitutional by a Missouri judge. It would also ban gender transition surgeries and prescribing medications for gender transition, including puberty blockers, for children younger than 18. The amendment also includes a severability clause. This could allow the rape and incest exceptions in the amendment to be challenged in federal court as being discriminatory and in violation of the 14th Amendment. If approved, the amendment would also require any legal challenges to the state law around reproductive health care be heard in Cole County. The Missouri Attorney General's Office was recently unsuccessful in convincing the courts to move an ongoing legal battle between the state and Planned Parenthood from Jackson County to Cole County. The language that could appear on each ballot does not mention the amendment would ban abortions, a detail that's been highly-criticized by Democrats as deceiving. Democrats have also accused Republicans of including the ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which is already illegal in Missouri, as a form of 'ballot candy' — a ruse aimed at tricking voters to support a measure they might otherwise vote against. Schroer said removal of the transgender health care provisions was a deal breaker for conservative senators. 'We talked to a lot of our members,' he said, 'and they said that issue needs to be included.' Amendment 3 narrowly passed in November following a multi-million dollar campaign by abortion-rights advocates. A day later, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri sued the state, challenging several of Missouri's laws focused on abortion facilities and providers. An amendment to alter the language so it directly states that it is repealing Amendment 3 was defeated just before the motion to cut off debate. While many sitting Republicans have previously opposed abortion exceptions outside of those to save the mother's life, many said the November election showed Missourians' desire for a less stringent law. Missourians overwhelmingly support abortion exceptions for survivors, an August 2022 SLU/YouGov poll found. The polling was done several weeks after Missouri became the first state to enact a full abortion ban following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Since Amendment 3 took effect, surgical abortions are being performed but medication abortions have not. Three of the state's several Planned Parenthood clinics have restarted surgical abortions for those up to 12 weeks gestation at clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis. The clinics were authorized to begin the procedure again for the first time in nearly three years after a judge struck down many of the state's abortion regulations, citing them as discriminatory. Medication abortion — the most common means of ending a pregnancy — remains inaccessible in Missouri after the state health department rejected complication plans submitted by the clinics outlining continued care for patients in the case they had any adverse effects from the medication. If the bill is signed by the governor, the paid-sick leave benefits approved by voters that went into effect on May 1 will be stripped away on Aug. 28. The bill also removes the requirement that the minimum wage be indexed to inflation, which has been in place since 2007 The paid sick leave and minimum wage provisions passed with 58% of the vote in November as Proposition A, garnering support from unions, workers' advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights groups, as well as over 500 business owners. 'Workers are earning paid sick leave right now,' said state Sen. Patty Lewis, a Democrat from Kansas City, 'and then it's going to get taken away and they're going to be fired up about it.' GOP critics have portrayed paid sick leave as a 'job killer' that would hurt small businesses. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, a Republican from Jefferson City, and Republican state Rep. Sherri Gallick of Belton. Senate Democrats have been in negotiations with Republicans over the last month to modify the bill, in what they've said is an effort to maintain the will of the voters in expanding paid sick leave rather than gut it entirely, as well as make it easier for businesses to comply. State Sen. Tracy McCreery, an Olivette Democrat, said senators have 'worked tirelessly to figure out some kind of compromise.' The Democrats spent two nights blocking a vote on the paid sick leave repeal earlier in the session. Under Proposition A, employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year must provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to earn at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours. The measure made sick leave guaranteed for 728,000 workers who lacked it statewide, or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers, according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project. Richard Von Glahn, policy director for Missouri Jobs with Justice, the organization that helped lead the campaign for Proposition A, said it's a slap in the face to voters that will create 'disgruntled employees' and cause 'chaos' for businesses. 'Proposition A was passed so overwhelmingly, with so much support from Republican voters, it seemed that it would be so controversial in the legislature that Republican politicians would be more hesitant than they apparently are,' he said, 'to overturn the will of their own voters, and cause them economic pain.' The message lawmakers are sending is: 'They don't believe that you deserve economic security,' he added. It could also cause backlash for the lawmakers from districts who supported the measure, he said. 'We're going to make sure that workers don't experience this as something that just happens to us without understanding these are decisions made by people, and workers have the ability to hold people accountable for those decisions,' he said. Von Glahn said it's not the end of the fight for paid sick leave, and advocates will consider putting it on the ballot again as a constitutional amendment, a move that would make it much harder for lawmakers to repeal. 'I'm confident,' he said, 'this is a policy that Missourians want and we're going to continue to fight for that through every means necessary.' The debate Wednesday afternoon began about 12:30 p.m. and Democrats held the floor for much of the time. But near the start of the debate, state Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Lee's Summit Republican, aired his grievances with the leadership of Missouri Right to LIfe. Cierpiot accused the organization, one of the most visible anti-abortion groups in the state, of focusing more on enforcing purity of thought and maintaining its influence within the GOP than writing laws acceptable to most Missourians. Amendment 3 reinstated abortion rights lost in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. If Missouri Right to Life's leaders had not demanded a ban with no exceptions for rape or incest, he said, Amendment 3 might have been defeated. 'Their leadership, Ms. (Susan) Klein, and Mr. (Dave) Plemmons and Mr. (Steve) Rupp have been much more interested in causing Republican brush fires over issues with much smaller or no impact on the huge effort for life,' Cierpiot said. The problems with Missouri Right to Life was evident in the 2024 elections when it made single-candidate endorsements, freezing out candidates who had been ardent anti-abortion legislators. The organization endorsed then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft in the Republican primary for governor, then refused to endorse Republican nominee Mike Kehoe for the general election. Other Republicans who won without the endorsement of Missouri Right to Life joined in the criticism. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold, said the law triggered by the 2022 abortion decision was negotiated in spite of Missouri Right to Life, not with its help. 'I don't know that I really care, frankly, that they didn't endorse me,' Coleman said. 'What I do care about is that they didn't endorse Gov. Kehoe in the primary, and they didn't endorse him in the general.'
Montreal Gazette
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
PQ candidate Boissonneault says he regrets his reckless youth
Quebec Politics By VICTORIAVILLE — The Parti Québécois candidate for the riding of Arthabaska deeply regrets his reckless youth but said Wednesday he is a new man, enough to merit the confidence of voters. And former journalist Alex Boissonneault insisted even if he had been approached three weeks ago about running by PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon — turning down his first and second offer — at no time was his journalistic integrity in doubt. He made his decision to run only Sunday, immediately informing his employer, Radio-Canada, which removed him from his job hosting the Quebec City morning show, Première Heure. He said he respected all the ethical guidelines of the corporation. At an at times emotional news conference Wednesday in his home town of St-Ferdinand in the heart of this riding in central Quebec, Boissonneault choked up when he talked about the deep roots his family has in the region where he was born and raised and still owns land. But it was his arrest in 2001 when he was a member of extreme left radical group that plotted to take down fences at the Summit of the Americas — a crime for which he was convicted after 41 days in prevention custody — that dominated journalists' questions at their news conference. He later applied for a pardon, receiving it in 2011. 'It happened, I regret it,' Boissonneault said with St-Pierre Plamondon standing beside him on a stage overlooking pristine Lac William. 'For sure I regret it. The path my life has taken since shows I have lived a respectable, clean life.' Asked what the today 46-year-old Boissonneault would tell the 22-year-old Boissonneault in relation to past events, he replied: 'Don't do it.' He also said he does not expect local voters in the conservative leaning riding to make an issue of his past, which the PQ has called an 'error of youth.' 'People know me, my region knows me,' he said. 'I don't think it will be an issue.' He said the decision to subject his life to scrutiny in an election was not easy. 'We know there will be turubulence,' he said. 'I have four children to which I had to explain (what I did). I spoke to my wife. It was not easy.' He revealed he has come full circle from his leftist past. After completing his education and teaching for three years in Peru, his views have changed. Today he considers himself centre right on the spectrum. He said the state has to do better. 'We pay a quarter of our salary in taxes and sometimes we have trouble seeing a doctor,' Boissonneault said. 'The taxpayers have to have more for what they give. Right now they give a lot and they don't have what they should have.' He said he signed on to the PQ's plans for Quebec sovereignty because he believes Quebecers can be 'richer, personally and collectively and like any other people they are capable of assuming their destiny.' On this theme, St-Pierre Plamondon has been coherent, he added. One who has no plans to let voters forget about Boissonneault's past is the leader of the Quebec Conservative Party, Éric Duhaime, who plans to run in the same yet-to-be-called byelection in the riding which the Coalition Avenir Québec has held since 2012. One day after issuing a blistering press release treating Boissonneault as a man unfit for public office, he arrived in the riding on the same day as Boissonneault's launch to hold his own afternoon news conference. 'It's important that the public knows that a candidate has arrived with a heavy criminal record,' Duhaime told reporters after touring a local fruit and vegetable supplier. 'I'm delighted that the population now knows and is capable of taking a decision.' But St-Pierre Plamondon said he believes Boissonneault is the man for the race. He learned only of his past when he first approached him to be a candidate. Colleagues and Radio-Canada brass were aware of his past. St-Pierre said he 'looked him right in the eyes,' and came to the conclusion Boissonneault 'is the best person to represent Arthabaska.' 'He has all my confidence,' St-Pierre Plamondon said. 'I am the guarantor of his candidacy. Never would I have considered cancelling someone's life for a mistake for which he has been pardoned.' Boissonneault's arrival comes on the same day as a new Léger poll conducted for the Journal de Montréal shows the CAQ has plunged to third place in public opinion as Quebecers say they crave a change from Premier François Legault's government, which has been in office seven years. The PQ leads the poll with the support of 33 per cent of voters followed by the Liberals with 21 per cent, the CAQ with 20 per cent and the Conservatives 13 per cent. The struggling Québec solidaire is polling at 10 per cent. St-Pierre Plamondon was cautious in his comments on the poll. 'Of course we're encouraged by another poll where we gained three points and we're in a good position,' he said. 'I've never dictated any decision or statement based on polls. We're going to focus on winning Arthabaska. That's all that matters for us today and in the coming weeks.' Observers are expecting an intense three-way battle for the riding, between the PQ, CAQ and Conservatives. The CAQ first won the riding in 2012 but it was left vacant when MNA Eric Lefebvre won a seat in the House of Commons in the April general election. The premier has until September to call the byelection.
