Pierre Peladeau did not, in fact, ever go bankrupt, as CAQ leader Francois Legault sheepishly had to admit Monday after making comments to the contrary.
Legault made the gaffe following discussions about some of his candidates who had previously declared bankruptcy.
Quebecor VP Serge Sasseville had tweeted that he was “shocked” by Legault’s comment about the media magnate who died 15 years ago.
Legault said that his comment was not meant to suggest that Peladeau had ever declared personal bankruptcy; rather he said he was making reference to the fact that some of the print publications Peladeau launched eventually went bankrupt.
Legault made his comments Monday morning while campaigning in some ridings north of Montreal won by CAQ forerunner ADQ in its 2007 popularity wave.
“It will be very close,” said Legault, “our information suggests that we could have a CAQ government if the 450 votes for us,” he said, referring to the areas around Montreal which use the 450 area code.
The CAQ caravan is spending time on the last day of the campaign in Masson, Ste. Therese, Groulx, St. Jerome St. Eustache, Mirabel and Terrebonne, seats won by the PQ in the last election.
Legault is also making an extra effort to court Laval, which went entirely Liberal in 2008 and where the ADQ never managed to win a seat.
The CAQ believes it has a chance in such Laval ridings as Fabre, where Dominique Anglade is running for the party and Laval-des-Rapides, where Maud Cohen is the CAQ candidate.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
