As Pierre Karl Peladeau took his new position in the National Assembly as Leader of the Official Opposition, a new poll shows a boost of public support for the Parti Quebecois and sovereignty.

The Leger poll conducted last week for Le Devoir and Journal de Montreal show the PQ getting 34 per cent of the vote if an election had been held over the weekend.

That’s six points more than the last poll, conducted by Leger on April 11.

The Liberal Party followed closely behind with 32 per cent, down five points since April.

The Coalition Avenir Quebec took 20 per cent and Quebec Solidaire got 10 per cent.

Support for independence has also spiked 10 points to 42 per cent.

As the numbers came in, the new leader of the Parti Quebecois participated in his first question period as PQ leader, a moment both the Liberals and the Parti Quebecois have been anticipating for months.

In his first question, Peladeau asked Premier Philippe Couillard to call a summit on the economy, telling him Quebec urgently needs to stem job layoffs.

“It’s economic, political and financial stability,” said Peladeau.

Couillard says the Liberals offer political stability and that will create jobs, adding that the PQ leader's focus on sovereignty is a gift for the Liberals.

“(We're) talking to Quebecers about real issues and real solutions to those real issues, not imaginary problems, and imaginary solutions, said Couillard, adding that the sovereignty goal proposed by the media baron is an “imaginary solution to a problem that doesn't exist.”

"Quebecers are happy, prosperous people within Canada and they’ve thrived within Canada while still asserting their identity within Canada and who we are, and that will be again what we keep repeating. And the choice will be clear. Mr. Peladeau has made clear what the choice of the next election will be,” said Couillard.

Couillard admitted he believes the tone will become more polarized over the next few years, but said Quebecers are more concerned with issues like quality of life, the economy, jobs and proper management of public money.

Peladeau said he believes the premier is in denial, adding that the anxiety Quebecers are feeling is real.

“This is real stuff and therefore I think he should consider working harder to make sure that we will continue to get an economic landscape that'll be better in the future,” he said.

In a speech to PQ supporters in the elaborate Red Room of the National Assembly, the party made sure to remove the Canadian flag.

Peladeau said his Quebecor shares will be placed in a blind trust as soon as Ottawa gives him the green light.

“We need the approval of the appropriate federal authorities,” he explained.

Liberals said this is a major hurdle for Peladeau and unless he deals with it there will always be questions about his judgment.

“What you want to know is whether or not there is a distinction between what he's doing and the influence he could have on the media where he's the control shareholder,” said Municipal Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau.

Liberals plan to make focus on that issue next week with hearings at the National Assembly on the ethics of an MNA owning such a stake in the media.


Popularity spike

The poll revealed what polls often do when a new leader is chosen: a bump in popularity.

Among Francophone voters, the PQ got 41 per cent support, far ahead of the Liberals at 22 per cent and the CAQ at 23 per cent.

Pierre Karl Péladeau was chosen by 30 per cent of respondents as the best head of government over Liberal Premier Philippe Couillard at 20 per cent, the CAQ’s François Legault and Françoise David of Québec Solidaire.

In May 2014, Léger noted the PQ had 19 per cent in the polls, third among Francophone voters under 45 years old.

The survey was conducted online with 1002 people on May 16 and 17. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.


Uniting the PQ

 Peladeau admitted at a Patriot's Day gala Monday night he is a political neophyte and still has much to learn as he begins his new role.

Peladeau said leading the destinies of a party that’s in opposition for the next three years will be a challenge.

The PQ leader has pledged to implement a research institute on independence in the coming months, one of his campaign promises.

Peladeau said unifying the PQ will only happen by putting an end to any animosity between Francophones and Anglophones.

"This project is not against anyone or anything. It's about the people of Quebec, to get all our jurisdictions and all our powers," he said.

Former Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe agreed, saying the focus has to be on building a stronger base.

"The most important thing is to get back the young people with the sovereignist movement," said Duceppe.

Former PQ leader Pauline Marois also attended the event, meant to honour the patriots who fought in the 1836-1837 rebellion.

Although she did not attend last week's leadership election, Marois said she plans to back up PKP and is looking to the future.

"It's united that we'll obtain our goal," she said.