Economy is our trademark, Charest tells party faithful

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Quebec Premier Jean Charest blasted the Parti Québécois' sovereignty option at a party meeting on Friday night but sidestepped his government's woes over allegations of corruption and influence-peddling.

In an opening speech to 600 party delegates in Lévis, just south of Quebec City, Mr. Charest focused on his government's handling of the economy in the aftermath of the last recession, boasting that no other jurisdiction has recuperated more quickly than Quebec from the economic downturn.

"We are the government of the economy. The economy is the trademark of the Quebec Liberal Party," Mr. Charest told party delegates. "All countries ... everywhere are looking for solutions. I should have said almost everywhere. Because on the PQ planet, they have other priorities."

The remarks had all the makings of a pre-election speech. Mr. Charest is taking no chances in the nearby Liberal stronghold of Kamouraska-Témiscouata in a by-election that will be held on Nov. 29.

The PQ is focusing on a referendum on sovereignty that Quebeckers don't want and to seek political independence regardless of the cost, Mr. Charest insisted.

"Fifteen years after the 1995 referendum, they want to go backward to another referendum that would profoundly divide Quebeckers," he said.

The delegates applauded when Mr. Charest told them he had just come from a meeting a few hours earlier with former British prime minister Tony Blair, who congratulated him on Quebec's economic performance.

"Quebec has fewer unemployed following this unprecedented crisis than it had on average under the PQ during the longest period of economic growth in North America. In other words, in time of crisis, your job is better protected under the Liberals than in time of growth under the PQ," Mr. Charest said.

As his government heads into the second half of its mandate, Mr. Charest's strategy appears to be to underscore his government's economic achievements. But that won't be easy as the opposition continues to attack Liberal ethics.

The past six months have proven to be a struggle for the Charest government as support in public opinion polls fell consistently. Its voter approval rating is now below 30 per cent.

The drop in support has been attributed to Mr. Charest's refusal to hold a public inquiry into allegations of corruption in the construction industry and potential links to party fundraising tactics.

A barrage of news reports this week about corruption in the construction industry fuelled calls for a public inquiry but the Liberals remain steadfast in their refusal to hold one, saying police investigations will be just as efficient.

"First there has to be police investigations. You need to gather the proof," said Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier. "We have to use the means that we have that have in past given results."

Other Liberals argue the industry needs to police itself and clean up its act rather than rely on a public inquiry.

"The world of the construction industry is quite particular. It's quite difficult," Finance Minister Raymond Bachand said. "International unions have internal auditors ... and it's also up to the members to put democracy back in their system."