In a pre-election pep talk for his troops, Quebec Premier Jean Charest told them unity will be an issue in the campaign.
"It's about our wanting to belong to a bigger whole, to a Canadian federation," Charest told about 2,500 provincial Liberals gathered in Quebec City on Saturday.
In touting his government's record, Charest also attacked Parti Quebecois Leader Andre Boisclair and previous PQ governments.
"Quebecers will never return to the days of a Pequiste government, of wasting of public funds," he said. "Those days are finished."
In addition, the PQ's only priority is a referendum as soon as possible, he said.
The Liberals are the only one with a realistic plan for Quebec, Charest said, flanked by candidates.
The premier, elected in 2003, has drafted his Liberal election platform. The key planks include a promise to reduce surgical wait lists, improve education and focus on the environment.
Charest also says he will cut income tax, raise tuition and hire 1,500 new doctors if his Liberals are re-elected to a second term.
Those priorities are in lockstep with the desires of the electorate, he said.
Charest is expected to call an election next Wednesday, setting the vote for March 26. On Tuesday, his government will be releasing its budget for the next year.
CTV's Genevieve Beauchemin said Charest's plans for tuition will cause some controversy.
"Tuition fees have been frozen here since 1994, and he is sure to meet some university students down the road who are going to be protesting this. But he still says that it will be cheaper to get an education in Quebec than anywhere else across the country," Beauchemin told 麻豆影视net.
Boisclair on tuition
Boisclair said Saturday that Charest is forcing students to pay for Ottawa's unwillingness to increase transfer payments to the provinces. He promised to maintain the freeze if the PQ is elected.
He said Charest bends over backwards to keep a good relationship with the federal government.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appeared with Charest, announcing $350 million to fight pollution and climate change.
The Conservative government has previously said Quebec will get about $1.5 billion in extra equalization funding.
"Charest's going to be able to say his kind of federalism is working, and it's working I'm able to broker deals with Ottawa and I'm able to get the ear of the prime minister," said McGill University professor Antonia Maioni.
Commentator L. Ian MacDonald said by helping Charest, Harper could be helping himself by forcing the Bloc Quebecois to support this spring's federal budget.
"How does Duceppe vote against that, and does he want an election with the Bloc at 31 per cent? I don't think so."
Some speculate that if Charest wins in Quebec, Harper may decide to engineer a federal election soon afterward -- even though the Tories deny it.
University of Ottawa professor Michael Behiels said don't believe the denials: "They're well organized, they've got ... a lot more money than the Liberals have. It's all lined up."
The Liberals are also trying to prepare for a federal campaign -- and are using the talk of a Quebec vote to pressure the Tories to stop negative ads aimed at party leader Stephane Dion from running there once the campaign starts.
Dion argued Saturday the ads could confuse Quebec voters and hurt Charest.
"I think if he has a minimum of decency, he will stop to send these negative ads during the provincial election."
With a report from CTV's Roger Smith and files from The Canadian Press
