MONTREAL - The performance of Quebec's pension fund manager remained front and centre today as leaders of the Parti Quebecois and l'Action Democratique du Quebec demanded the agency's numbers be made public.
The Caisse de depot et placement's leadership said Friday they won't release any figures until early 2009 but assured the public the fund had liquidity.
The arm's-length Crown agency controls an estimated $155 billion in assets and ADQ Leader Mario Dumont insists it's facing billions in losses due to the economic downturn.
The leader of l'Action Democratique du Quebec estimates the pension fund manager is facing losses of up to $30 billion for 2008.
Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois, who is campaigning in the Quebec City area this morning, charged that Premier Jean Charest called the election to obscure a financial mess at the agency.
"Put the numbers on the table if you're responsible," she asked her main opponent during a Saturday morning news conference.
But Charest's campaign seemed unscathed by the opposition's swipes.
A poll published on Saturday suggests support for his party continues to swell.
The Nov. 14-18 Nanos Research survey indicated Liberals have an eight-point lead with support at 44 per cent, compared to the Parti Quebecois at 36 per cent and the ADQ trailing at 12 per cent.
The poll of 505 Quebecers, which was conducted for Policy Options magazine, is accurate 19 times out of 20.
Other polls have shown the Liberals leading by up to 11 points.
Meanwhile, Premier Jean Charest is expected to discuss financial framework of the Liberal plan on Saturday.
He has pledged to release the cost of his promises in advance of Tuesday's leaders' debate.
Quebecers go to the polls on Dec. 8.
