Jean Charest acknowledges this fall's sitting of the legislature was a gruelling one because of the constant calls for a public inquiry into the construction industry.
"It's been a tough session ... it hasn't been easy," the Premier told a news conference on Friday as members of the National Assembly began their winter break.
Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois again repeated her demand for an inquiry, describing Mr. Charest as "a ball and chain" who is stifling the aspirations of Quebeckers.
"It's a government that has a sombre record when it comes to ethics and corruption," Ms. Marois said.
Relations between the two leaders have deteriorated in the past several months and, on Friday, neither bothered to exchange holiday wishes with the other.
The Premier has been under constant attack by the Opposition for his decision to leave it up to police to investigate allegations of collusion in the construction industry.
"That has been a difficult and a tough debate," Mr. Charest said, criticizing what he called "the scorched-earth approach" of the Opposition.
Mr. Charest acknowledged Quebeckers are concerned about allegations of corruption in the construction sector, but reiterated his belief that a public inquiry is not the solution.
He noted that along with Operation Hammer - a special police investigation into the construction industry - a permanent unit will be created to root out corruption in the sector.
"We believe there should be something permanent so that we can clean our garden every season as opposed to being in a cycle where these things reappear," he said.
"There should be something permanent so that we're paying attention to this kind of problem on a regular basis."
Mr. Charest has been harshly criticized - not only by his political opponents - but also online and in public opinion polls.
Surveys have put his approval rating below 20 per cent. An online petition seeking to have him removed from office has generated close to a quarter of a million signatures.
Despite it all, the 52-year-old Mr. Charest has his eye on winning a fourth term as premier.
In recent interviews, he made it clear he intends to finish his third mandate.
Mr. Charest may win back the minds and hearts of Quebeckers by pointing to the province's economic performance, which he says is on the right track.
"Our job performance is such that we have created 70,000 jobs in the last 12 months, our deficit is lower than almost everywhere else, we've had more economic growth than anywhere else and that's where the real world is at," he said.
This week marked the second anniversary of Mr. Charest's last election victory and he does not have to call an election until December, 2013.
He is the first Quebec premier in more than half a century to win three straight mandates.