047692_low.jpg?q=90 "Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Francois Legault walks with his wife Isabelle Brais during an election campaign stop in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., Wednesday, August 8, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes")
Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Francois Legault walks with his wife Isabelle Brais during an election campaign stop in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., Wednesday, August 8, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
August 08, 2012 - 4:33 PM
MONTREAL - The conversion of Francois Legault away from the cause of Quebec independence appears more definitive, and complete, than ever.
He has been saying for months that he will not work toward another referendum if his new Coalition party wins the provincial election, because he wants to rally Quebecers of all stripes to co-operate on tackling other important issues.
But now Legault says he would actually vote against independence — and vote No — if someone did call a referendum.
That represents a gradual, perhaps 180-degree, swing for Legault, who just several years ago was a Parti Quebecois cabinet minister and leadership candidate who called independence an urgent priority.
Legault's new party is an underdog in what polls suggest is a relatively close three-way election race. Quebecers vote on Sept. 4.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012