The main party leaders in Quebec's provincial election are limiting their campaigning today in preparation for Tuesday's pivotal debate.
Liberal Premier Jean Charest, Parti Quebecois Leader Andre Boisclair and Action democratique du Quebec Leader Mario Dumont need to perform well after a new poll revealed a tight, three-way race.
The CROP survey, conducted for La Presse and released Saturday, put Liberal support at 33 per cent, PQ support at 29 per cent and ADQ support at 26 per cent.
TVA's Jean Lapierre, a former Liberal cabinet minister, said Charest has the most to lose on Tuesday.
"The problem with Jean Charest is that he's decided to campaign on his track record and Quebecers are not very happy with what happened -- especially in the health sector," Lapierre told CTV's Question Period on Sunday.
"The expectations are so high... the stakes are very high for him -- either he turns his campaign on Tuesday night or he's history."
On Saturday, Dumont said Quebecers should not fear a minority government, citing Ottawa as an example of minority success.
"It doesn't prevent flowers from growing in the spring; the government is still awake and it's taking care of business,'' Dumont told the Canadian Press.
However, PQ leader Andre Boisclair refused to entertain the notion of a minority government and asserted his party will win a majority a victory over the Liberals at the polls on March 26.
But Lapierre said that may be difficult as Boisclair has no personal bond with Quebecers.
"Frankly, he's been a horror story for the PQ because the worst score the PQ had was 33 per cent in the last election -- now Mr. Boisclair's party is running around 29 per cent and he personally is running at 19 per cent," said Lapierre.
"What he has to do is try to rally sovereigntists around him, which he hasn't been able to do since the beginning of this campaign."
In contrast, Lapierre said Dumont has made solid gains because "people don't trust Charest or Boisclair."
"He's in the playing zone... he's the only one who has the personal bond with Quebecers," said Lapierre.
While the big-three prepared for Tuesday's debate, there were some smaller parties out on the hustings.
Scott McKay, leader of Quebec's Green Party, said his party would invest billions into public transit in the Montreal area if elected.
Meanwhile, Quebec solidaire Leader Francoise David called for better housing.
With files from The Canadian Press
