Liberal Leader Jean Charest fended off attacks by his two rivals during Tuesday night's Quebec election debate, arguing he had formed strong ties between the province and the rest of Canada.
"We are no longer caught in quarrels between Quebec and Canada," argued Charest.
"Quebecers do not want quarrels and repetitive referendums. We also don't want surprises or improvisation."
Charest is fighting for his political life in a three-way race, defending his federalist party against Parti Quebecois Leader Andre Boisclair and Action democratique du Quebec Leader Mario Dumont.
Charest said his close relationship with Prime Minister Stephen Harper will give the province millions of dollars in funding from Ottawa, to rectify the so-called fiscal imbalance.
He also warned voters that supporting Boisclair would alienate Ottawa and trigger another referendum call.
But Boisclair fired back that Quebecers "want a Quebec that is more free, more responsible. We would hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty."
Meanwhile, Dumont attacked Charest for breaking campaign promises.
"Jean Charest's words don't carry much weight," said Dumont.
"Jean Charest promised heaven and earth to get himself elected and if he could have promised the moon, he would have."
He charged that Charest has failed to help an ailing health care system, where patients enduring long waiting lists.
Dumont also attacked Boisclair for defending the Canadian health care system, when he would bring in a unique privatized model.
"You defend the Canadian model, I want to create a Quebec model," he said.
Dumont added that both the Liberal and PQ governments have "almost doubled the health budget in 10 years, and look at the state of the situation."
But Charest fired back at Dumont: "How much is a woman with cancer going to have to pay for her treatment?"
In the last election, Dumont's rising fortunes only translated to four seats. But analysts say that if he holds on to support, Quebec could see a minority government.
At least one political commentator thought Charest failed to impose himself in the debate, meaning Dumont may succeed.
"Frankly, tonight, the guy who didn't really seem to have it was Mr. Charest," TVA's Jean Lapierre, a former Liberal cabinet minister, told Â鶹´«Ã½.
"He looked like someone ready to go to the funeral parlour, the way he was dressed. He had no energy, no fire in the belly."
With a report by CTV's Jed Kahane and files from The Canadian Press
