The provincial Liberals say they are trying to find a way to change the political discourse in Quebec from the Charter of Values to the economy, but it seems they cannot help themselves from discussing religious matters.

At a two-day meeting in Lac St. Jean, the party members talked about the crucifix in the legislature and how important it is to voters in rural Quebec. Jean-Paul Diamond, the Liberal MNA for Maskinongé, said that in his riding the Charter has more supporters than opponents.

MNAs outside of Montreal say fighting to keep the statue of Jesus Christ in the National Assembly will win them votes in the next election, particularly in rural areas.

Liberal leader Philippe Couillard was the latest politician to claim that the crucifix donated by the Catholic Church was not religious, but was nothing more than a cultural icon.

"It doesn't mean of course that we have a religious state in Quebec, nobody seriously believes that. But it's important, and Quebecers have told me that many times, 'Yes, we want to be inclusive we want newcomers to work in our society, we know we need them to come and help us develop Quebec, but we want to see that our customs our heritage is also taken into account,'" said Couillard.

For years members of the PQ, including Bernard Drainville and Premier Pauline Marois, have said the crucifix is not actually a religious symbol and so should stay in the legislature.

Last November the Parti Quebecois changed its mind and announced the crucifix could be moved somewhere else in the building, but only if the Charter of Values became law.

The Catholic Church has said repeatedly that the crucifix is much more than a mere historical symbol and is, in fact, the ultimate symbol of Christianity.

Couillard also said the wider ban on religious expression the PQ wants could harm the economy, since investment is linked to social peace

“We have to be extremely careful on how we manage diversity and how we are seen to manage diversity,” he said.

Jobs, jobs, jobs

Meanwhile Couillard, who is planning to run in the riding of Roberval in the next election, met with local Liberal party members Monday night.

The riding strongly supported the independence side in the 1995 referendum, but it is a swing riding that has gone back and forth between the Liberal party and the PQ since 1970 -- and before that between the Liberal party and Union Nationale.

Denis Trottier is the current MNA, winning a seat for the PQ by about 1,500 votes in 2008, and 6,000 votes in 2012.

Liberal supporter Roger Lauriault said people in the region don't really care about the Charter of Values, but are concerned with finding work.

"Our problem is not the charter, it's how we live. Our families are losing their jobs, this is our concern. For us that is the core of the election coming up," said Lauriault.

Couillard said the next election platform for the Liberal party would include substantial cuts to payroll taxes, and increase support for the forestry industry, an industry hard hit with layoffs.

Couillard said he advocates more cheap corporate energy rates to lure jobs.

“The picture of global energy has completely changed in the recent years,” he said.