SAGUENAY, Que. - Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois emerged from a pivotal caucus meeting Thursday unwilling to make any concessions to the party's go-slow approach to bringing about sovereignty.
Surrounded by several members of her PQ caucus, the embattled leader said there is no plan to renounce "sovereigntist governance" -- a strategy that has seen some members quit.
The plan consists of a future PQ government seeking more powers from Ottawa without specifying when a sovereignty referendum would be held.
The party has called for public consultation on sovereignty but Marois told reporters that whatever is discussed won't change the plan in place.
Five PQ members of the legislature have quit since June for varying reasons and a group of disgruntled sovereigntists, including some of those defectors, released a manifesto questioning the party's leadership.
A citizens' movement has also been created to promote a more proactive approach to Quebec independence.
But Marois said a majority of PQ members voted for her sovereignty plan in 2007 and that it was widely supported at a party meeting last April.
"We had a meeting where members voted almost unanimously in favour of a strategy that is now in the party program," Marois said.
"So, as far as I'm concerned, we're going to implement this strategy."
The Saguenay caucus meeting, meant originally to plan for the fall session at the provincial legislature, became more about reining in members and rebuilding morale with party support failing.
So Marois announced she will allow members to vote as they see fit on non-crucial issues, with the exception being on key votes such as budgets or government confidence motions.
More definitive guidelines for free votes will be adopted in the coming months, Marois said, adding she is hoping the caucus will be united in the future.
The first test will come quickly with the resumption of the legislature on Sept. 20 and an upcoming vote on Bill 204 -- controversial special legislation that would protect the multimillion-dollar deal to build a controversial Quebec City arena from any legal challenge.
Marois had tried to get members to vote along party lines in June, sparking the defections.
On Thursday, she appeared confident the hemorrhaging within the party is over.
She said she didn't think it was necessary to ask for a solemn declaration from party members.
"I invited my team to be coherent, cohesive, disciplined, united and to show solidarity and confidence," Marois said.
"I think that all the members of the team have accepted my mantras."
