Quebec votes for change; Liberals win majority

Story reproduced unedited from the STAR.COM

By: Allan Woods Quebec Bureau

Quebec Premier-designate Philippe Couillard and his wife Suzanne Pilote

Philippe Couillard’s Quebec Liberals have won a stunning election upset, trouncing the Parti Québécois to win a majority government.

The Liberals took the lead minutes after polls closed at 8 p.m., Monday, a lead that grew only wider as the results poured in until they passed the 63 seats needed to form a majority government in Quebec’s national assembly.

Cheers rang out among Liberal supporters gathered in Couillard’s hometown of Saint-Félicien as word of the majority was announced on television.

That was in sharp contrast to the boos shouted out at the Parti Québécois election gathering in Montreal as they, too, heard the news that the rival Liberals will form the government.

“Ah, this is such a nightmare,” said one PQ supporter.
 

Preliminary results had the Liberals winning 70 seats and about 40 per cent of the vote, besting the PQ’s showing of 26 per cent support and 31 seats. Coalition Avenir Québec, led by François Legault, took 21 seats and Québec Solidaire won three.
 

It’s a shocking reversal of fortune from the outset of the campaign. The PQ went into the election with 54 seats and the Liberals had 49. The result marks a disaster for Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois and almost certainly marks an end to her political career.

She launched the election just over a month ago, hoping to win a majority mandate from Quebec voters after serving as premier of a minority government for 18 months.

And at the outset of the campaign, it appeared that her goal was well within reach as Marois hoped to capitalize on the still-fresh memories of corruption within the ranks of her rival Liberals.

But a series of missteps by the PQ on the campaign trail — including an open desire for a renewed push for Quebec separation — gave voters pause and gave the advantage to Couillard’s Liberals.

Those troubles started with the introduction of star PQ candidate Pierre Karl Péladeau, former president and CEO of Quebecor Inc. While he spent much of his political début talking about the economy, it was a fist-pump and a declaration “to make Quebec a country” that reawakened the sovereignty debate.

For several days afterwards, Marois herself showed no hesitation discussing her vision of an independent Quebec, stopping only when her party started to sink in the polls.

Péladeau won his seat in the riding of Saint-Jérôme — and a spot in the opposition benches. Péladeau, a possible leadership candidate if Marois steps aside, said he was committed to serving out the entire mandate “to the very best of my skills.”

He praised Marois as a woman of “courage and determination” but said the PQ must accept the choice of Quebecers with “humility.”

The victory marks a surprise comeback for the Liberals, who lost power 18 months ago after the sting of a corruption scandal.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne offered her congratulations to Couillard.

“Ontario and Quebec have a long history of collaboration and productive relations, and we look forward to continuing our fruitful partnership by focusing on the things that matter most to people: good schools, reliable health care, a safe and clean environment and a strong economy,” Wynne said in a statement.

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau heralded the election results, saying that Quebecers voted for a “better economy, instead of a third referendum” and gave the provincial Liberals a “strong mandate to address the real issues in the province.