MONTREAL - The leader of Action democratique du Quebec says the Parti Quebecois dream of a third referendum on independence would be crushed under a minority government.
"Today there is surely a group of sovereigntists who are ill at ease,'' Mario Dumont said Saturday as he campaigned east of Montreal.
His comments came after a new poll suggested the election battle with PQ Leader Andre Boisclair and Liberal Leader Jean Charest remained a tight three-horse race last week.
Dumont said there will not be a referendum in the next mandate if a PQ minority government is the outcome of the March 26 election.
The ADQ leader said Quebec's law on public consultations states that a referendum must be adopted in the national assembly before it can be called.
"The PQ leader doesn't know the law on public consultations and the constraints that apply,'' Dumont said of Boisclair. "On a subject as delicate as this, on a subject as important as the future of Quebec, he appears ready to toy with it.''
Polls have indicated the Quebec election could produce a minority government, the province's first in more than a century.
The latest survey conducted by Strategic Council for the Globe and Mail and CTV suggested 32 per cent of respondents supported the Parti Quebecois, 30 per cent favoured the governing Liberals and 26 per cent backed the ADQ.
But the race is to close to call when the margin of error is considered.
The poll surveyed 1,000 voters between March 14 and 15. The results are considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.
Boisclair said Friday that even with a slim PQ victory, he would seek a referendum. He maintained the PQ will form a majority government.
Campaigning in Quebec City on Saturday, the energized PQ leader said his performance in last week's televised leaders' debate breathed new life into his party's campaign.
Boisclair claimed he won Tuesday's French debate against Dumont and Charest.
"It's clear in my mind, and in the minds of all of our candidates, that the debate was a turning point for the Parti Quebecois,'' Boisclair said. "People saw what I have in my heart ... people saw my passion for Quebec.
"What Quebecers see is a solid leader who has substance, who is capable of winning a debate.''
Boisclair focused his attack on Dumont, whose surging ADQ has turned heads during the campaign.
The PQ leader said Dumont's proposals on prescription insurance, the environment and autonomy will shift Quebec into reverse.
"This change by Mario Dumont is a change that will set us back,'' Boisclair said. "With the Parti Quebecois, the real change will be to move forward.''
Meanwhile, Charest, who was campaigning northeast of Montreal, attacked Dumont for not announcing the cost of the ADQ platform with only nine days left before the election.
"What an empty shell.'' Charest said of the ADQ campaign promises. "On questions that are serious and deserve more serious responses and solutions, what is Mr. Dumont doing?
"I notice that in Mr. Dumont's program, and in his ideas, that abolition is strong. He wants to abolish everything in his path.''
