In a widely anticipated move, former Parti Québecois major player, François Legault has announced the creation of a new centre right political grouping: the Coalition for the Future of Quebec. First "soft" launched via You Tube video, ex-PQ Minister Legault, a founder of Air Transat, followed up by holding a press conference, where he shared the podium with another businessman, Charles Sirois of Fido, a noted federalist. Not yet officially a party, Legault's Coalition has two years until the next Quebec election to get itself ready.
Quebec provincial election
The perils of Pauline Marois
Parti Québecois leader Pauline Marois has all the qualities necessary to be premier of Quebec. First elected in 1981, Mme. Marois has been minister of finance and of health, and has held other significant ministerial positions. Not many figures in Canadian political history have been as well prepared as Marois to become head of government.
All she is lacking is one thing. Her party does not hold the majority of seats in the national assembly.
Which way ahead for Quebec?
The movement for Quebec independence, born in the 1960s, and incarnated by the Parti Québecois, the promoter of Quebec sovereignty, is undergoing severe internal strains, and facing a major external challenge.
Former PQ minister François Legault has organized a Coalition for Québec's Future which is readying itself to contest the next Quebec election. Brandishing a right-of-centre program, Legault, a wealthy one-time Air Transat owner and executive, has promised to set to one side the Quebec independence/sovereignty question for a decade.
Breakthrough for Québec solidaire
Amir Khadir, one of the two spokespersons for Québec solidaire (QS), has won a seat in the Quebec National Assembly. Among the many excellent aspects of the Québec Solidaire platform is a call for the Quebec government to pass a motion opposing "any Canadian imperialist intervention in Afghanistan." The QS success represents an important advance for the social justice and anti-war movements in both Quebec and English Canada.
Québec Solidaire wins its first ever seat
Amir Khadir won the first ever seat for the upstart left party Québec Solidaire.
