MONTREAL - Premier Jean Charest says he will release figures on the government's financial health for 2008.

Charest says the auditor general has approved the financial statement which shows a surplus of $484 million.

The decision to release the figures comes in the wake of mounting pressure from his rivals in the campaign for the Dec. 8 election.

Opposition Leader Mario Dumont and Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois have criticized Charest for calling an election while the world is in a financial crisis.

Marois has repeatedly said Quebec is in a deficit despite assertions by Finance Minister Monique Jerome-Forget in her financial update earlier this week to the contrary.

Dumont has also come out in support of a new super hospital in Montreal.