PQ pondering coalition with Quebec Solidaire, Green Party to win Verdun riding

Quebec Economy Minister Jacques Daoust speaks to media at a news conference in Montreal, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015. (Ryan Remiorz / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The Parti Quebecois has a plan to win the riding of Verdun in the next provincial election: teaming up with its rivals.

Sources told The Canadian Press that party officials will propose an alliance with Quebec Solidaire and the Green Party in the riding in order to win its seat in the National Assembly, vacant since the resignation of Jacques Daoust.

An internal poll shows Liberal support in the riding at 40.2 per cent after distributing undecided votes, 10 per cent less than they received in the April 2014 provincial election.

The poll showed a coalition between the PQ and QS would garner 35.4 per cent support, placing them in a statistical tie with the Liberals, again after redistributing undecided votes.

A source within the PQ who requested anonymity said that bringing in the Green Party would ensure a victory.

“What the survey showed is that we should have a conversation with the Green Party,” they said. “Given the green policies of (new PQ leader Jean-Francois Lisée), it’s certainly possible.”

One proposed scenario would be a candidate who is not affiliated with any of the three parties who would sit as an independent, though the PQ source said they are open to other ideas.

The Parti Quebecois has already named a candidate for that riding's by-election: Lorraine Pintal.

QS spokesperson Stephanie Guevremont expressed little enthusiasm for the idea, saying their candidate has already spent two weeks canvassing door-to-door.

“If the PQ wants to abstain to permit our candidate to beat the Liberals, they’re free to do so,” she said.

Green Party leader Alex Tyrrell also declined to express support for a coalition.

“We are encouraged by our results in the survey and we will present a candidate in Verdun,” he said, adding that he is open to discussing environmental policy with the PQ.

At a caucus meeting in Victoriaville on Sunday, MNA Veronique Hivon said she is optimistic for a "progressive convergence," despite the apparent lack of enthusiasm from the other two parties.

Hivon, who withdrew from the party's leadership race due to health concerns in August, said she has received a green light from her doctor to return to her full duties.

The survey showed support for the PQ slipping slightly from 24.4 per cent last election to 22.3 per cent while QS is up to 13.9 per cent from 9.7 per cent. The Green Party had a substantial increase in support, garnering 10.9 per cent, versus 2.1 per cent in 2014.

Verdun is one of four ridings which will soon hold by-elections. The others are Marie-Victorin, formerly held by the retired Bernard Drainville, former PQ leader Pierre Karl Peladeau’s riding of St-Jerome and Arthabaska, whose MNA Syvlie Roy passed away in July.