Is it a Christmas tree or a holiday tree? Premier Jean Charest's office tried both and stuck with tradition. (CBC)Two days after winning a majority government, Quebec Premier Jean Charest's Liberals have apparently become embroiled in their first debate — what to call the festive tree on the legislature lawn.

On Tuesday, Charest's office sent out a news release announcing the premier was going to "light the Christmas tree" the next day. But 10 minutes later, that bulletin was followed up with "a slight modification."

It said Charest would "light the holiday tree" on Wednesday. The word "Christmas" was gone.

The Liberal caucus, meeting for the first time since Monday's election, appeared split over what to call the tree.

"We must respect culture, we must be open to the world," said Natural Resources Minister Claude Béchard. "We are an inclusive society here in Quebec. For me, it's a Christmas tree but to others it's a holiday tree.

"The goal of the government is to bring together as many people as possible."

But Agriculture Minister Laurent Lessard said the name doesn't matter to Quebecers who buy the trees en masse every year.

"We're selling Christmas trees," he said. "We're big producers of them in the regions.… Is it still a tree? Are we still going to call it a tree? We produce trees."

Benoît Pelletier, the outgoing intergovernmental affairs minister, could speak freely because he didn't seek re-election Monday.

"I don't know the reason for the decision, but I think we can talk about Christmas in Quebec without getting upset," Pelletier said. "For me, my tree is a Christmas tree.… When I see decorated trees, I think of Christmas trees."

The premier's office appeared a little red-faced Wednesday afternoon.

"It's a Christmas tree, we're not debating this, nothing has changed," said Hugo D'Amours, a spokesman for Charest.

He said there was just a misunderstanding and the change in the news release had nothing to do with political correctness.

The person sending out the advisory on the premier's agenda simply wanted to conform with terms used by the provincial capital commission, which referred to a "holiday tree," D'Amours said.