Pierre Karl Peladeau and Quebec Premier Pauline Marois

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois: according to Winnipeg Free Press. It is ironic, no doubt, but Quebecers and all other Canadians should be grateful to Mr. Peladeau for his big mouth. With a single blurt he has driven a wedge between Ms. Marois and the radical wings of the PQ, while energizing federalists, in particular Quebec Liberals and their leader Philippe Couillard. Quebec Premier Pauline Marois and her star Parti Quebecois candidate Pierre Karl Peladeau are refusing to answer questions about a possible future referendum on separation. They said Thursday they would answer only questions about the PQ platform for the snap provincial election Ms. Marois called for April 6, which was rich given it was Mr. Peladeau himself who ignited the incendiary issue five days earlier by saying he was not seeking election to govern Quebec, but rather "to make Quebec a country." Enlarge Image As rich as the about-face was, more importantly it was telling. It signalled there is no stomach for a separation debate in Quebec, as there is not in the rest of the country, and Ms. Marois knows it even if Mr. Peladeau does not. She knows raising the sovereignty issue could cost her the majority government she covets and, with it, the slim hope the levers of power could provide to restart a sovereignty fight in the future. Related Items Articles Marois defends PQ candidate accused of spouting anti-Semitic myths Marois tells Canada not to be afraid of Quebec election outcome Columns Sovereignty: the bogeyman in the closet (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.