Pauline Marois turns down request for English debate

MONTREAL – PQ leader Pauline Marois says she’s not comfortable enough in English to participate in an English-language debate.

“I am able to speak in English and I think I’ve improved my English but I don’t think I will be very comfortable in a debate for explaining my specific point of view.” she said Thursday.

“And I don’t think that will serve the Anglo Quebecers but I am able to have a dialogue with Anglo Quebecers and I proved that in the past and I will continue to do that in the future.”

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On Monday, a consortium of English-language media in Quebec officially invited party leaders to take part in a 90-minute televised debate in English in the run-up to the next Quebec provincial election.

READ MORE: Quebec media invite provincial leaders to debate – in English

News directors from Global Montreal, CBC, CJAD, CTV and The Gazette reached out to the leaders of all four main provincial parties.

Philippe Couillard of the Quebec Liberal Party, Quebec Solidaire’s Françoise David and François Legault from the Coalition Avenir Quebec were all open to the idea of an English-language debate.