Known by some as the "architect" of the Liberal's ill-fated plan to raise tuition in the province, Bachand's record as finance minister during difficult economic times has nonetheless put him on solid footing as a leadership contender.

His positions on lowering taxes, scrapping Bill 14 and eliminating the province's debt through the Generation Fund plan have been pillars of his bid to head the party.

Here’s what Bachand has said in the run up to the leadership convention about several issues the party’s new leader will face:

The future of the PLQ

"What we have to do as the Liberal party, you know, you have to regain the trust of the citizens. The Anglo community is worried about the Liberal party and whether it’s reality or perception is a moot point because the perception is key.

"We have to reconnect and make sure that the community is listening to us and [reassured] that we do take care of your hospitals and your school boards and the West Island trains.

"The francophone community of Quebec – if you want to kick out the PQ, you’ve got to get a leader of the Liberal party who is going to reconnect with francophones in the regions of Quebec."

-CBC Montreal's Daybreak, Jan. 24, 2013

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Corruption and collusion

“There are two main reasons Quebecers kicked out the government: They wanted to change the premier and that perception of integrity.

Maybe we could have moved more quickly on some matters, but the fundamental decision, which is the right decision, was to set up UPAC and [Operation] Marteau before that. I signed a cheque for $30 million to have a permanent unit of police men and Revenue Quebec people that go after that. . .

"You can’t do anything if you don’t do police work. I know [people] wanted a commission right away. But a commission doesn’t get anyone in jail. I want to get these crooks in jail at the end of the day. . . I

"f you don’t gather the proof, tap people, listen to them, you’re not going to get anywhere. Could it have started six months earlier? Maybe. But not two years earlier. Maybe public opinion wanted that, but you would not have had the results you have today."

- CBC's Quebec AM Jan. 17, 2013

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Bill 14

“If I’m the leader, I’m going to try and stop it dead in its tracks and not even start section by section.

"I think it’s a law that basically wants only to divide Quebecers. Bill 101 basically solved a lot of questions in that 80 per cent of immigrants were going to English schools, now they’re going to French schools, so that secures the environment.

"Now we have to be in an open environment. Of course French in the work place and in the streets is important for the majority of francophones, which are the minority in North America. I don’t care which language you speak at home. You can do what you want to do at home and basically, I think young Quebecers also should learn English.”

- CBC Montreal's Radio Noon, March 6, 2013

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On university funding

"Two-thirds of Quebecers approved our approach. But let’s be clear – it’s a scandal right now not to put money in universities.

"We’re eight million Quebecers, there’s seven billion people on the planet and we’re going to win if we have strong universities. They’re underfinanced. They were underfinanced. Everybody agreed on that except the day we asked the students.

"The tax payers also has paid enough. Our income taxes are high enough and the municipal taxes are high enough. So if we as tax payers are going to add $000 million in university , students should do their share. We will raise tuition, but to what extent, at what speed, that will be discussed. It was discussed last time. But then it turned into a social debate in Montreal

-CBC Montreal News, Jan. 29, 2013

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On the English-speaking community

"My strong belief is the anglophones in Quebec today, they’re Quebecers. They’ve chosen to stay in Quebec. They want to be Quebecers.

"They’re part of our history, they’re part of what we are today. They’re part of our future. Anglophones are going to be an important part of my government, of the members of parliament.

"There will be a link with the community and I won’t try to seduce you with a song, like Jean-François Lisée."