New Parti Quebecois leader Jean-Francois Lisée said he is comfortable with the idea of leading Quebec as a province as it already has a large amount of autonomy.
Lisée added that while his goal remains independence, a PQ government would have much room to act in the current constitutional framework.
The new leader made his remarks in a brief scrum following a speech given by former Premier Lucien Bouchard, given as part of a symposium in memory of former Premier and PQ founder Rene Levesque.
Bouchard’s speech echoed Lisée’s remarks, as he lashed out at sovereignists who would refuse to lead Quebec as a province.
Lisée had campaigned on a platform of not having a referendum in his first term should he be elected premier in 2018, rather wishing to establish a reputation of good governance, thus proving the viability of a sovereign Quebec.
“We can do huge things as a province in Quebec,” said Lisée, adding that he intended to tell the public that a PQ government would do even better in an independent Quebec.
