KYOTO, Japan - Premier Jean Charest accused the opposition Parti Quebecois of damaging Quebec's economic interests by opposing the Liberals' mining legislation.
He said that the PQ is playing partisan politics at the cost of the economy. He made the comments during his four-day trip to Japan.
PQ mining critic Martine Ouellet threatened to create a legislation logjam if the legislation didn't deal with the delicate issue of royalties.
The PQ demands a royalty system based on the revenues, rather than the profits of the mines.
The PQ opposition could lead the law to be passed only after Christmas.
Charest has repeated that the royalty issue falls within the realm of the Minister of Finance and was not written into the legislation.
Charest has held multiple meetings in Japan to woo investment into the exploitation of natural resources as part of his Northern Plan.
The plan would benefit Quebec, he assured a well-attended press conference in Kyoto, 480 kilometers north of Tokyo.
The Japanese have money to invest and are interested in Quebec, stated Charest, who did not specify the exact nature of the projects he was promoting.
Charest's trip lasts until 2 September and includes appearances in Beijing, Shanghai and Jinan, China.
