Quebec election result 'good news' for Canada: PM

Last Updated: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 | 1:02 PM ET

CBC News

The Quebec election has brought "good news" for Canada, with the province's voters rejecting calls for another referendum, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says.

Speaking outside the Commons on Tuesday, Harper called the vote — with the sovereigntist Parti Québécois finishing third behind the Liberals and the conservative Action Démocratique du Québec — a "great result."   

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, shown in the House of Commons during question period on Tuesday, said later that the results of the Quebec election are 'good news' for the province and Canada.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

"We have a government who is against holding another referendum," Harper said.

"At the same time, we have an Official Opposition that is opposed to another referendum. This is the first time in about 40 years we have seen this situation.

"I think it's good news for Quebec and for Canada."

Harper also dismissed questions about whether he would use the result to call a federal election.

"I know everyone sees an election opportunity in this, but the public didn't elect me to sit around and look for election opportunities," he said. "We're here to govern."

PM 'blackmailed' Quebecers: Dion

During question period, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion said his party was pleased with the result.

"Quebecers have given Premier Charest a mandate to work with other Canadians for a greener, more just and more prosperous Quebec within a united Canada," he said.

But Dion also accused Harper of manipulating Quebec voters by indicating he would limit federal spending power if federalists won the election.

"The prime minister must explain clearly, to all Canadians, the means and the rationale for his desire to limit federal spending powers beyond the limits already in place," Dion said. 

"And he must justify his proposal in terms of the best interests of Canadians, and not in terms of blackmail and electoral manipulations."

Voters don't want 'never-ending referendums': Martin

Harper echoed earlier comments by former prime minister Paul Martin, who said the PQ's defeat shows Quebecers don't want "never-ending referendums."

"This is the first time in almost two generations that neither the government in office, nor Official Opposition is a separatist party," said Martin, who spoke to CBC Newsworld a day after Jean Charest's Liberals eked out a minority victory in the provincial election.

"You have … two parties that essentially want to stay in Canada and want to make Canada work, and have another agenda other than an immediate referendum.

Former prime minister Paul Martin says the election of two parties that want to stay within Canada speaks 'to the mood in Quebec.'
(CBC)

"I think that does speak to the mood in Quebec," said Martin, who acknowledged federal Liberals are disappointed Charest didn't form a majority.

Charest's Liberals won 48 seats in Monday's vote, down from the 72 they held before the election call. Mario Dumont and the ADQ will form the Official Opposition with 41 seats, while the PQ dropped to 36 seats.

It's the first minority government in the province in 130 years, raising speculation about whether party leaders can work together.

Tom Pentefountas, a former vice-president of the ADQ, said it is an "open question" whether Dumont will work with Charest.

"I think we're going to have to sit down, the leadership of the ADQ, Mario Dumont, obviously, and we're going to have to decide what's in the best interest of Quebec," he said.

'We'll work night and day' to make federation work

Pentefountas said Dumont on the weekend shut the door "completely" on the idea of a coalition with Andre Boisclair and the Parti Québécois.

"Mario Dumont, and the ADQ as a party, believes that Quebec's future is within Canada," he said. "We'll work night and day to ensure that everyone gets along within this federation."

While campaigning on Sunday, Dumont rejected Boisclair's suggestion that a coalition between the two parties could push ahead with a sovereignty referendum.

Pentefountas said he's hopeful the strong support for his party marks the end of the traditional division of Quebec politics along federalist-separatist lines.

"During that time, we were bogged down by these two old parties and not discussing the issues that most healthy democracies are dealing with," he said. "We have $125 billion in debt, our infrastructure is falling apart, education is falling apart, health care."

Pentefountas admitted even party insiders were taken aback by the strength of voter support.

"We were all surprised and that's the honest to God truth," he said with a laugh.