Quebec party leaders preparing for key debate
Upstart party Coalition Avenir Québec hopes to make gains
CBC News
Posted: Aug 19, 2012 6:07 AM ET
Last Updated: Aug 19, 2012 12:12 PM ET
Leaders from four of Quebec's political parties will debate Sunday night. (CBC)
CBC News Network will carry the French-language debate for the leaders of four of Quebec's political party leaders — live with English translation — tonight from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. It will also be streamed online at CBCNews.ca, and through the CBC News app.
Liberal Leader Jean Charest, leader of the Parti Québécois, Pauline Marois, Coalition Avenir Québec Leader François Legault and Françoise David, a Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson, will battle for votes in the debate.
The upstart Quebec sovereigntist party Option Nationale failed to secure a spot in the debate when a Quebec court turned down its bid for an injunction that would have forced CBC's French-language service, Radio-Canada, as well as Télé-Québec and TVA to include Jean-Martin Aussant, the party's leader and sole MNA, in the debates.
Aussant was one of six PQ legislators who quit the party in June 2011. He sat as as an Independent before launching Option Nationale.
During a campaign stop Saturday in Laval to talk about a plan to increase the number of parking spaces in the Montreal area to improve public transit use, Charest said he knows everyone will be gunning for him. He didn't seem to be fazed by it.
"I will be the target. There's no doubt about that," the premier said. "You know that. I know that. I have have been the target for the last four years, frankly, and that's what this debate will be about, so we'll just have to deal with it."
Public opinion polls show the PQ leads the Liberals and the Coalition Avenir Québec.
Sunday's debate, organized by a consortium of broadcasters, will be held at the Radio-Canada studios in downtown Montreal.
Share Tools
Latest Montreal News Headlines
- 1-day Quebec private daycare strike affects 25,000 kids
- Thousands of parents are finding alternate babysitting arrangements in the face of a one-day walkout by about half of the 600 private, subsidized daycares in Quebec, with the strike affecting about 25,000 kids. more »
- Daniel Ratthé eager to return to CAQ caucus
- Blainville MNA Daniel Ratthé says he is shocked to hear his name is expected to come up at the Charbonneau Commission. more »
- Molotov cocktail targets St. Léonard business for 2nd time
- Montreal's arson squad is investigating a molotov cocktail attack. more »
- Taking a look at graffiti tagging hotspots in Montreal
- Behind the scenes in Montreal, tensions are mounting as residents and graffiti artists stake their claim over the city. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- Video forensics: How easy would it be to fake a Rob Ford video?
- Two media outlets reported last week that they had seen a cellphone video of Mayor Rob Ford allegedly smoking crack, a claim that has gone global. If a video does surface, how easy would it be to determine its authenticity? CBC News asked video forensic analyst David McKay. more »
- Oklahoma residents begin to return home after deadly tornado
- Rescue workers raced to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of nine children. more »
- Xbox One: A closer look
- The design, performance, Kinect camera, controller, requirements and limitations of Microsoft's Xbox One get a critical look. more »
- Over 1 million Montrealers face boil water advisory
- A boil water advisory is in effect for at least 24 hours across much of Montreal. more »
Most Viewed/Commented
- 'Lightly felt' earthquake west of Montreal
- Crucifix to stay in National Assembly: Drainville
- Service restored on Montreal metro lines
- Molotov cocktail targets St. Léonard business for 2nd time
- Daniel Ratthé eager to return to CAQ caucus
- Quebec director Chloé Robichaud gets Cannes ovation
- Thousands push for rejection of Bill 14
- Gary Carter honoured with Montreal street name
- Quebecer dead in Mexico after scuba diving incident

