QUEBEC -- Opposition politicians slammed Premier Philippe Couillard on Wednesday for calling byelections in the final weeks of the federal election campaign.
The premier announced that four byelections will be held Nov. 9.
Couillard could have waited until after the Oct. 19 federal election to call them, said Francois Legault, leader of the Coalition for Quebec's Future.
Legault said the law allows up to six months -- or until next spring -- to fill the legislature vacancies.
The Coalition intends to wait until after the federal vote to put up its signs, but there are reports the Liberals have already started doing so in the Montreal riding of Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne.
Legault accused Couillard of sowing the seeds of confusion.
"There will be five signs from the federal parties, four from the provincial parties and everyone will be confused, but Philippe Couillard is saying: so much the better if everyone is mixed up," Legault said.
"What cynicism on the part of Philippe Couillard."
But the premier denied the accusation, saying Quebecers are smart enough to make the distinction between federal and provincial politics.
He also said he wanted the byelections held before a general council of his Liberal party on Nov. 14-15.
Three of the ridings -- Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne, Fabre and Beauce-Sud -- went Liberal in the 2014 election, while Rene-Levesque is considered a Parti Quebecois stronghold.
PQ Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau denounced what he called Couillard's "cynicism" in calling the byelections.
