Who's a Sovereignist?

As Jean Charest prepares to meet PQ leader Pauline Marois tonight in a head-to-head debate, he's setting his sights on another leader who he believes is a sovereignist.

Speaking in south shore La Prairie, the Liberal leader took aim at CAQ leader François Legault, repeating what his said in last night's debate about Legault being a sovereignist for 40 years and changing his mind in four seconds.

"There's an old expression," he said. "If it looks like a duck and if it walks like a duck, it's a duck."

Help for Business

Charest announced today a $750-million, five-year program that would offer aid and resources to Quebec's manufacturers to help them develop business and export their products to other markets. 

He would also create a $2-billion fund, financed in equal measure by the Quebec government and by private sector partners, to facilitate research, development and innovation.

Health Debate

Representatives from the Liberals, CAQ, and PQ joined the Tommy Schnurmacher Show this morning for a healthcare debate. Among the topics discussed: Wait times and bureaucracy in the system.

When it comes to reducing wait times in the ER, Health Minister Dr. Yves Bolduc says improving services at home for the elderly is the answer.

The potential health minister under a CAQ government, Dr. Gaetan Barrette, said doctors coming into the system should be required to see a minimum of 1,000 patients per year.

The PQ is promising a family doctor for every Quebecer within four years; a much more reasonable timeline according to PQ candidate Thierry St-Cyr, than the CAQ's promise to get that accomplished in one year.

Round 2 Tonight

Jean Charest will debate Pauline Marois in a head-to-head debate on French television. CJAD News will provide coverage of the debate after 9 p.m.