MONTREAL — The Quebec government has launched a new ad featuring Premier Jean Charest standing against a white background and speaking directly to Quebecers about the importance of "political courage."
To be run for three days, the ad is being seen by some as mounting proof of the premier's plan to call an election in the fall.
"Being premier of Quebec is not a popularity contest and that's the least we can say, especially because we live in very turbulent times," says Charest, speaking to the province's voters. "I accept that, it comes with the job."
Defending the government's agenda over the past year, the ad calls some of the Liberal decisions "tough, difficult and unpopular," but defends them as "responsible" choices for the next generation of Quebecers.
The student group representing college students, FECQ, criticized the ads on Monday morning. New FECQ President Elaine Laberge called for Charest to sit down with students and mediators instead of spending public money on flashy ads.
Saying that her party will launch its own "pre-election" ads, opposition leader Pauline Marois called the ads a form of "manipulation" of the electorate.
"I think he is saying to Quebecers, ‘We will use the crisis.' He thinks it will be good for him, I hope that Quebecers will not accept this manipulation," said Marois.
