It’s that time in the campaign when newspaper editorials come out backing one party or another. The National Post is favouring the Tories, in Quebec La Presse is backing — no one!

André Pratte (in Quebec editorials are signed) says his paper has come to the sad conclusion that no political party has proven it is ready to lead in this time of economic uncertainty.

In 2006, La Presse supported the Conservatives despite a few reservations with the party’s program at the time. Pratte says Stephen Harper has deeply disappointed and doesn’t deserve a majority. Harper has done some good things in government such as recognizing the Quebec nation and solving fiscal imbalance. On the other hand, the Tories did not deal with environmental concerns, lowering the GST cost the public purse $10 billion — money that would be very useful today— gaffes in foreign affairs, and Harper’s systematic inflexibility to change policies when he is wrong deeply concerns the paper.

Pratte says the Liberals are not ready to take over in Ottawa. Stéphane Dion has surprised everyone conducting a much better campaign than anyone had predicted. Pratte says Dion is an idealist with indisputable integrity but his inability to manage his own party casts doubts on his talents as a leader. The Liberal party remains divided, which also undermines Dion’s leadership.

As for the Bloc, Pratte says Gilles Duceppe is incontestably a political force in Quebec. He has lad a very efficient campaign and has shown that he is very close to the sensibilities of Quebec voters. But, the Bloc remains a sovereigntist party which is a position with which La Presse doesn’t agree. Quebecers voted to remain in Canada so it is unhealthy to deprive its people strong representation within national parties.

La Presse says people should vote for the best candidate in their riding. Pratte concludes that having ministers from Quebec does not guarantee all decisions in Ottawa will benefit the province, but it does help to make sure our interests are taken into account.

Quebec voters know that those who are absent are always wrong, Pratte says.

— Emmanuel Marchand