Libman not endorsing CAQ

By Joel Goldenberg, August 15th, 2012

Former Equality Party leader Robert Libman has received a lot of media attention in recent days, after he suggested that anglophones who perceive they are taken for granted by the Quebec Liberals use this election as an opportunity to send the party a message. He says voters could do this by voting for Coalition Avenir Québec candidates in ridings where the PQ cannot possibly win.“It’s more important to send a message to the Liberal Party than elect a CAQ member,” Libman added.
But considering the polls of recent days, showing parties in close proximity, Libman was asked if he stands by his advice. What if the PQ wins a majority if some votes go to the CAQ instead of the Liberals or if the PQ gets a minority by even one seat going from the Liberals to the CAQ?
Libman replied that if the PQ won a majority, it would not be from specific seats changing hands from the Liberals to the CAQ. “That’s why I’m saying, only vote in ridings where you can’t split the vote to help the PQ,” he said. “It’s only in ridings where the PQ has no chance.  “But if the PQ gets 60 seats, the Liberals get 59 and the CAQ gets six, in that situation, the Liberals and CAQ would create a coalition government to outnumber the PQ, to avoid the PQ getting in. There would be no reason not to. Why would they want to be in opposition?"
But constitutional experts told The Suburban that our electoral system does not work that way. Both federally and provincially we have what is called a "first past the post" system. That is, the party with the most seats is asked by the Governor-General federally and the Lt.-Governor provincially to form the government. Only if the government is defeated on a confidence vote does the GG or LG have the option, but not obligation, to ask the opposition to try and form a government without going to an election.
We  also asked Libman if it is certain CAQ leader François Legault has really left his sovereignist past behind — even with last week’s announcement he would vote No if a separation referendum was held now?
“That’s obviously one of the key questions,” Libman said. “He certainly made strong speeches about Quebec sovereignty over the years. Is he just a separatist wolf in federalist sheep’s clothing? That’s a question anglophones have to ask in evaluating whether the CAQ deserves their vote. "n