Jean Charest is stepping down as Quebec Liberal leader after 14 years, including nine as premier.

Charest made the announcement in Quebec City today, a day after losing his own seat in the provincial election and seeing his party form the official Opposition.

Charest came to the Liberals in 1998 from the federal Progessive Conservatives where he served as leader.

He was first elected as an MP in Brian Mulroney's first Conservative wave in 1984.

Including that victory, Charest won eight consecutive elections in Sherbrooke, four federal and four provincial, before losing
yesterday.

Charest prided himself during his three mandates as premier as a sound economic manager, particularly during the 2008 economic crisis that rocked the world.

Photo: Canadian Press

SHERBROOKE, Que. - On the heels of a resounding electoral defeat, Jean Charest will likely consult his caucus before deciding on his future, according to a former cabinet minister and close ally.

Monique Gagnon-Tremblay said Charest is scheduled to meet his outgoing cabinet Wednesday and then his caucus later in the week, possibly Thursday.

Gagnon-Tremblay expects Charest to talk with his colleagues at those gatherings about whether he should stay on as Liberal leader.

"Yes, probably, because he's always consulting his caucus,'' she said at the Liberal rally in Charest's home riding of Sherbrooke, minutes after he gave his post-election speech without offering a hint about his future.

"He will do it, I'm sure, as he's used to doing it.''

Charest suffered two major defeats Tuesday. His Liberal government was relegated to the official Opposition after nine years in power and he lost his hometown seat of Sherbrooke for the ...

Latest count
Last updated: 9:55 p.m. 

PQ: 56
PLQ: 47
CAQ: 20
QS: 2 

Notable Winners

Jacques Duscheneau, Yolande James, Pauline Marois, Leo Bureau-Blouin and the two Quebec Solidaire leaders Francoise David and Amir Khadir

Parti Quebecois

It is still too early to determine if the Parti Quebecois will hold a minority or majority government. 

Shortly before 9 p.m., the PQ was in the lead with 58 seats. It was claimed in Charlevoix-Cote-de-Beaupre, Gaspe, Labelle, Lac St-Jean, Mercheres, Roberval, Rimouski, Richelieu, Rene-Levesque, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Matane-Matapedia, and others. 

Liberals

Notable wins: Kathleen Weil, Liberals in Notre-Dame de Grace; Acadie; Chapleau; Chomedy; D'Arcy McGee; Gatineau; Jacques Cartier; Jeanne-Mance-Viger....

Participation

Quebecers headed to the polls in huge numbers today. So far, voter turnout is at 52.74 percent.

During the last provincial election in 2008, total turnout was recorded at 57.8 percent -- a record low turnout since 1927.

This evening, the Liberals and ...

Voters are getting out to the polls faster than they did during the 2008 election.

By 3:00 this evening, 40.29 percent of the population had voted.

This includes the advanced polling figures.

You can cast your ballots until the polls close at 8 O'Clock tonight.

Once the polls are closed tune in to CJAD for our election night coverage. Aaron Rand and Tommy Schnurmacher will host two Gang of Four panels. We also have reporters with the major party leaders and we'll carrly the big speeches live.

"A good day, Mr. Legault?" asks CJAD reporter Claude Beaulieu as the CAQ leader walked into an elementary school to cast his ballot in his riding of l'Assomption.

"Yeah, be a good day," he responds.

Before the cameras and micorphones outside the school, Legault pounded the nail thay holds his platform together: the need for change and for a break from the sovereignty debate.

A little later, Legault and his entourage descended upon a local eatery to shake a few hands among the lunch hour crowd. The reception by patrons was friendly, one woman telling Legault: "I didn't vote for you when you were with the PQ, but I'm voting for you now."

L'Assomption riding has long been in the PQ camp, notably during the Jacques Parizeau years. The PQ last won the riding in 2008 by a more than 4000 vote margin.