Lucien Bouchard, the charismatic leader who carried Quebec to the cusp of independence, is flinging himself back into the political spotlight -- this time in a quest for Quebec's energy independence.
After a decade in which he has been largely absent from the political stage, the popular ex-premier announced Tuesday he will take on a prominent new job.
As the new president of the Quebec Oil and Gas Association, Bouchard will seek to convince a skeptical province of the merits of exploiting its considerable shale-gas resources.
The new role is consistent with Bouchard's latest political obsession: In most of his public appearances in recent years, he has stressed the need to develop Quebec's economy instead of promoting independence.
Bouchard's career in the national spotlight began with a powerful role in Brian Mulroney's federal Conservative cabinet. He left to found the Bloc Quebecois amid a falling-out with Mulroney.
In 1995, Bouchard took over the leadership of a foundering Yes side during Quebec's independence referendum and, under his watch, the cause rallied to near-victory.
His new campaign will be another bruising political battle.
The industry is having a tough time winning a public-relations war over whether to exploit Quebec's massive shale gas resources.
The previous association president, Andre Caille, was forced by hecklers to cut short a public meeting a few months ago.
The province's environmental impact-assessment board is set to release a report next month following a round of hearings on the potential ecological fallout from development.
While that process was going on, a number of gas leaks were detected from exploratory wells, only fuelling the debate.
The controversy has forced the province's Liberal government, long a vocal supporter of development, into quasi-retreat mode.
In an abrupt shift in tone, a cabinet minister last week expressed skepticism that the industry had done enough to ensure environmental safety, while Premier Jean Charest warned a moratorium might be imposed on development if the industry didn't clean up its act.
