QUEBEC – Quebec Premier Pauline Marois officially called an April 7 general election just after 10 a.m. this morning.
“It’s up to Quebecers to make their choice,” she announced.
“The only choice for the future of Quebec.”
Marois met with her cabinet at 9 a.m. eastern.
She ran through a list of all the PQ’s recent accomplishments before announcing the election to reporters near the lieutenant-governor’s office.
Election fever has been building in recent days amid a flurry of spending announcements from the minority PQ government as well as the introduction of candidates for various parties.
The PQ is currently leading in public opinion polls, followed by the Liberals and the Coalition for Quebec’s Future.
Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard says his party will focus during the campaign on the concerns of Quebecers, including health care, education and jobs.
Coalition Leader Francois Legault is accusing Marois of wanting to run her campaign on the PQ’s controversial secularism charter.
He says the emphasis should be on the economy.
The PQ’s opponents have accused it of mismanaging the economy and say Quebec is living beyond its means.
“The Liberals and the CAQ decided to oppose our budget before even reading it,” argued Marois.
“All of Quebec has had to stop because of their attitude. It’s time to end this and take the necessary means to dissolve the government.”
Marois defeated Jean Charest’s Liberals to win the provincial election in September 2012.
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