Parti Québécois Leader André Boisclair told supporters it was their duty to keep the sovereigntist dream alive, even as the party suffered a disastrous loss of its Opposition status to the Action démocratique du Québéc in Monday's election.
"There's one thing for sure tonight — Quebecers wanted a change," Boisclair said in Montreal after the Liberals won a minority. "They sent a message that we heard."
Flanked on stage by PQ members, Boisclair talked about the party reaching out to the people during the next session of the national assembly.
'We have the duty to keep this flame alive.'—PQ Leader André Boisclair
"Quebecers wish to be listened to," he said. "They have elected a minority government, a government that will be under watch."
The PQ's fall from Opposition shows Quebecers' appetite for a referendum is now dim, said Antonia Maioni, a political scientist and director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada.
But the 40-year-old party leader called for the PQ to continue with the sovereigntist platform, saying: "We have the duty to keep this flame alive."
Growth of the ADQ led to the loss of 10 seats for the PQ and left the party in third place for the first time since 1973.
The PQ has been declared the winner in 36 seats, down from the 46 ridings held at the time of dissolution.
The PQ gained six seats from the Liberals, but lost 16 to both the Liberals and ADQ. The sovereigntist party also has seen a five per cent drop in the popular vote compared to 2003.
Of the 16 seats lost, only one was formerly held by a Liberal. In Laurier-Dorion, Liberal candidate Gerry Sklavounos had 43 per cent of the popular support and PQ candidate Elsie Lefebvre had 33 per cent.
Monday's election, won by the Liberals, marked the first time in nearly 130 years that a minority government has been brought to power.
Boisclair, elected leader in 2005, had a few rough spots during the election campaign.
They included describing Asian students in French as having "slanting eyes" and having to address his homosexuality, which came under attack from a radio host in the Saguenay region who said factory workers wouldn't vote for someone who is gay.
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Internal Links
| Party | Elected | Leading | Total | Vote Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIB | 48 | 0 | 48 | 33.08% |
| ADQ | 41 | 0 | 41 | 30.80% |
| PQ | 36 | 0 | 36 | 28.32% |
| QS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.65% |
| GRN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.89% |
| OTH | 0 | 0 | 0 | .26% |
| Last Update:March 27, 12:52:21 AM EDT | ||||
Quebec Votes 2007 Headlines »
- Que. Liberals take minority win with grain of salt
- Quebec Premier Jean Charest said he'll build bridges with the Parti Québécois and the Action Démocratique du Québec to ensure a stable minority government.
- Dumont will work with Quebec Premier Charest
- Quebec's new Opposition Leader Mario Dumont said he wants stability at the national assembly and pledged to work with the Liberal minority government on a case-by-case basis.
- Boisclair remains at helm after PQ finishes 3rd
- André Boisclair is staying on as leader of the Parti Québécois and vowed to help rebuild the fractured party after it suffered major losses in Monday's provincial election.
- Quebec election result 'good news' for Canada: PM
- Stephen Harper says voters in the Quebec election have used their ballots to reject calls for another referendum in a "great result" for Canada.
- Charest keeps seat as Liberals cling to power in Quebec
- Quebecers are waking up to a minority Liberal government — the first minority in the province in 130 years — and a new official Opposition.