2. Table of Contents
Quebec Political Landscape: Election 2014
-Background
-Polling
-The Campaign
-The Verdict
-The New Government
3. National Assembly at dissolution
PQ PLQ CAQ QS Independents
Background
Elections are called on March 5 against a
backdrop of basic identity politics and
political haggling over the PQ’s proposed
budget.
Premier Marois’s popularity is bolstered
by her solid performance managing the
Lac Megantic tragedy and the popularity of
the Charter of Values outside of urban
centers.
At that time, the Liberals appeared to
struggle in defining their stance on key
identity issues.
4. 10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Sep 12 Dec 12 Mar 13 Jun 13 Sep 13 Oct 13 Dec 13 Jan 14 Feb 14 Mar 14 March
31 2014
PLQ PQ CAQ
Voting Intentions
41%
19%
29%
Polls showed the PQ gradually losing its edge as the campaign raged on
Source: Léger Marketing & CROP
6. Turning Points
WEEK 1
Liberal leader proudly introduces a group of star candidates including Dr. Gaétan Barrette, former
Investissement Quebec president Jacques Daoust and the economists Carlos Leitao and Martin
Coiteux.
WEEK 2
Star candidate Pierre-Karl Péladeau wreaks havoc among PQ troops by declaring intention to hold a
referendum in the next mandate, provoking a heavy shift to the Liberal Party.
WEEK 3
1st debate - PQ’s Marois does not succeed at calming anxiety around a possible referendum.
CAQ and Quebec Solidaire vigorously attacking Marois plays into the Liberal’s hands.
WEEK 4
2nd debate - Forceful attacks by CAQ’s Legault yield a boost to his campaign
Ethical issues and an off-shore bank account held during the 1990’s come to haunt Couillard and the
Liberals
WEEK 5
Polls show a significant shift in favour of CAQ among francophone voters at the PQ’s expense. The
Liberals maintain their lead
11. The New Premier
He re-entered politics in 2012 after four years in the private sector, succeeding former
Premier Jean Charest as leader of the Liberal Party in 2013.
A result of his scientific training, Couillard is very fact-oriented and his no-nonsense style
has contributed to his popularity in the electorate.
Couillard seeks to distance himself from Charest-era Liberals, an orientation that could be
reflected in the selection of Cabinet Ministers.
A neurosurgeon by training, Philippe Couillard
served as head surgeon at two Quebec Hospitals
before entering politics.
Couillard left the medical profession to run in the
riding of Mont-Royal in 2003, serving as Health
Minister until 2008.
12. The New Liberal Government
• The new Liberal Cabinet will be formed by the end of April, after which the
government will get down to tabling its first budget. It is expected that the
main message of the next four years will be that only robust growth will
allow the province to continue providing its social programs and reduce its
debt.
• During his leadership race last year, as well as in this recent campaign and
in his first press conference on Tuesday, Liberal Premier-elect Couillard
emphasized employment and regional economic development.
• The PLQ will try to kick-start the Quebec economy by resuming massive
infrastructure investments and pushing for more natural resources
development.
• The Couillard government will likely steal a few pages from its opponents.
Couillard announced he will table a new, minimalist Charter of Values and a
new end-of-life Bill this spring. He is also promising to develop the St-
Lawrence River as an alternative to road transportation, a copy of a similar
CAQ Project.
13. A New Investment Climate
Topics Minority PQ Government Majority PLQ
Government
Minority vs. majority
government
Can dissolve the National
Assembly at any time. A
minority government
remains in place on average
18 months
Same government for 4 and
a half years
Business Savvy No MNA with real
economic background or
experience
Couillard’s top priority is
focusing on public finances.
Three new MNAs will join
the economic team:
-Carlos Leitao
-Jacques Daoust
-Martin Coiteux
Economic Development
structure
A lack of a real strategy for
economic growth for
instance, no Ministry of
Economic development
Want to bring back the
Ministry of Economic
Development
Public investments An announcement of more
than $ 2 billions in public
investment s before the
campaign
A reduction in public
investments and the PQ’s
previous announcements
are to be reevaluated
14. Leadership Campaign
(2013)
• Education
• Innovation
• Tax Reform
• Quebec Identity
• Open government
Election
• Health care reforms
(7-day clinics and
more ‘super-
nurses’)
• Regional economic
development
• Reviving Plan Nord
First Press Conference
(April 8, 2014)
• Ethic-thorough
background checks
for all government
members
• Audit of provincial
books by Auditor
General
• A minimalist
Charter of Quebec
Values
• Reintroduction of
end-of-life
legislation
• A more open,
transparent
government
Couillard’s Top Priorities
15. Key Dates to Watch
Week of
April 14
April 22nd
or 29th
Late April-
Early May
Swearing in
of MNA’S
Appointment
of new
Cabinet
Inaugural
speech
Mid-to late
May
End of May-
early June June 15th
Tabling of
Budget
PLQ Policy
Convention
End of the
Charbonneau
Commission
