MONTREAL - Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois is applauding the possibility Quebec could emerge as a winner and "get things" from Ottawa under a new coalition federal government.
Marois suggested on Monday the participation of her party's federal cousin - the sovereigntist Bloc Quebecois - in governing Canada might result in gains for Quebec.
She offered little indication of what benefits she envisioned but she has lambasted Liberal Premier Jean Charest in recent days for allegedly remaining silent while Ottawa revised its equalization formula in a way that would slash transfer payments to Quebec by $1 billion.
She appeared to be referring to that equalization change as she replied to a question about the coalition deal during a provincial election campaign stop Monday. But Marois stopped in mid-sentence, perhaps aware of the political sensitivity surrounding the issue.
"If the Bloc Quebecois can get things for Quebec while Jean Charest is on his knees. . ." Marois said, her voice trailing off.
"It's Quebec that will come out the winner," she continued.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe appeared well aware of the potentially volatile reaction outside Quebec to the notion that sovereigntists might suddenly hold more power in Ottawa than Canadian conservatives.
The deal would give him no seats in cabinet. His Bloc would also be free to exit the pact a year earlier than the other two parties involved, the Liberals and NDP.
Duceppe said he would act with Quebec's interests in mind, but reiterated his respect for Canada - something he has often stated over the years.
On the Quebec election trail, Charest has tried turning the coalition talk to his Liberals' advantage.
He has repeatedly presented the instability in Ottawa to buttress his campaign mantra: that Quebecers should elect a majority Liberal government to ensure economic stability.
"Political instability and economic instability make for a bad mix and the proof is what is happening in Ottawa," Charest said during an election stop.
The premier urged the House of Commons to deal quickly with the ongoing crisis, but he said all he really wants in the end is a prime minister who will deal with the economy.
He told reporters he doesn't want to get involved in the ongoing debate, adding that federal politicians will just have to figure it out.
"But I do want to have in front of me, as rapidly as possible, a government and a prime minister with whom we are going to work with on the economy," he said.
Charest stressed that first ministers must go ahead with a working meeting in January to discuss the economy.
"We haven't had a meeting on the economy for about 20 years," he added.
"We have to move forward and we have to prepare for that . . . regardless of the scenario (in Ottawa), it's a rendez-vous which has to be respected."
But the Quebec premier was evasive when asked about a poll which suggested the vast majority of Quebecers would have preferred a coalition government to another federal election.
Charest replied with his campaign pitch that Quebecers should elect a majority government and rally behind his Liberals next Monday.
"We are going to have a choice (and) we can vote for a government that will be stable and better equipped to deal with the period of economic instability," he said.
Meanwhile, Mario Dumont was appealing to Stephen Harper to back off and signal that "recess time" is over in Ottawa.
During a campaign stop in Louiseville, the Action democratique du Quebec leader also expressed concern about the Bloc Quebecois supporting a coalition.
Dumont said Quebecers did not vote for the coalition, adding that the interests of Quebec are now being "very, very badly served."
