The Quebec Solidaire political party is using a new ad campaign to make its position clear on Quebec independence.
   
In the ad, a crudely-drawn stick figure gleefully kicks a beaver -- Canada's national animal -- right off the screen.
   
The small left-of-centre party says the ad is aimed at clearing up misconceptions about rumours that it flirts with federalism.

Jean Charest says if his Liberal party is re-elected, families whose children attend public schools would receive $100.00 for each child.

His announcement, from the Beauce region, would cost $45-million a year. The Liberal party leader also says the Homework Assistance Program in Elementary School would double from $20 million to $40 million.

The premier also dismissed a survey that found that 70 per cent of Quebecers believe the Liberals are corrupt.
Charest says the only poll that matters will be the election results on September 4th.

Photo credit: Montreal Gazette 

CAQ leader Francois Legault says, if elected, he will give Quebecers a chance to have a bigger stake in our natural resources.

Their plan would be to create a fund of 5-billion dollars under the Caisse de Depot that would allow people to invest in Quebec's natural resources. The revenues would then go to repay Quebec's debt.

"My main target is that in ten years from now," says Legault, "we will be rich as the rest of Canada."

Legault is also setting the record straight after comments made by his Saint-Jerome candidate Jacques Duchesneau. Duschesneau had said in a previous interview that he will have the power to name ministers in a future CAQ government.

But the party's leader says Duchesneau will be responsible in four ministries regarding only the parts dealing with integrity. He says he told Duchesneau that he will consult him when choosing those ministers.

"But the final decision ...

In the past few days, the Liberal Party of Quebec has joined the Green Party as the only contenders offering an English-language platform on their webites.

Despite wanting to steal Anglo votes away from Liberals, the CAQ is still without English content online.

During a debate on the economy this morning on The Tommy Schnurmacher Show, CAQ candidate Stéphane Le Bouyonnec was asked by Liberal finance minister Raymond Bachand why that was the case.

"Why doesn't the CAQ have an English website?" Bachand said.

"We don't have the funds of the Liberals, obviously," Le Bouyonnec responded.

A star PQ candidate says that he wants a referendum as soon as possible.

Candidates from the three major parties debated economic issues earlier on The Tommy Schnurmacher Show, but the discussion quickly turned to sovereignty.

Rosemont candidate Jean-Francois Lisée, an influential sovereignist writer, told Tommy that he is anxious for a separation vote.

"I wish for a referendum as soon as possible," Lisée said.

Over the weekend, PQ leader Pauline Marois was more moderate, saying that ideally there would be a referendum during her first mandate, but that her agenda has not been set because she needs to convince Quebecers. She also wants to remain flexible for strategic reasons. 

Lisée also suggested that some careful planning will go into setting the stage for winning conditions.

"You have to be agile, you have to have reactivity. You have to be in a situation where it will be a success. We ...

Former corruption czar, and new CAQ candidate for St. Jerome, Jacques Duchesneau says he has a proven track record of fighting corruption.

He told Dave Fisher this morning he chose to enter politcs to help clean it up. He says he would have the power to help choose ministers in a CAQ government: It's just a plan, he said. He and Legault are thinking ahead, not being overly confident. 

As head of Quebec's anti-corruption unit for a year and a half, Duchesneau claims to have saved Quebec taxpayers $347-million.

A new poll out this morning in the Journal de Montreal shows that almost half of voters think that Duchesneau can reduce, or even eliminate corruption.

The issue is a "major problem" in the province, according to 86 per cent of respondents.

Two-thirds also think politicians are corrupt. Even more believe Liberals in particular are dirty - 70 per cent.

41 ...

The first major debate of this election campaign will take place this morning on CJAD.

Liberal finance minister Raymond Bachand, star PQ candidate Jean-Francois Lisée and CAQ candidate Stéphane Le Bouyonnec will discuss economic issues with Tommy Schnurmacher at 9:30 a.m.

Quebec's rising $250-billion debt, job creation and more are on the agenda.

photo: La Presse

Most Quebecers think the Charest government is corrupt and 86 per cent say corruption is a major problem in Quebec.

With the arrival of former anti-collusion squad head Jacques Duchesneau on the scene, Leger Marketing asked about corruption in the province.

7 in 10 say the Quebec Liberals are corrupt and two-thirds say political parties in general are corrupt.

But, 41 per cent say Duchesneau joining the CAQ is good news and 45 per cent think he can clean things up and reduce or eliminate corruption.

Party leader Francois Legault says Duchesneau is Quebec's Elliott Ness.

Photo: Michel Boyer