For information and reservations, please consult the following Web page: www.iedm.org/
You may complete the form online or return it to us by fax at 514-273-0967.

ADQ and Mario Dumont (32)

Jean Charest news conference.
(Runs 11:11)

Friday Feb 14, 2003 ts
Quebec sovereignty still big issue: Charest
Liberal leader slams ADQ's Dumont `Is he a federalist or a separatist?'
Quebec Liberal Leader Jean Charest says even if his party wins the upcoming provincial election and replaces the separatist Parti Québécois, the issue of Quebec's role in Canada will not go away.

(Forthcoming visits to Ontario and France - Le Devoir - Feb 15 2003)

---

jeudi 6 février 11h00 HNE
Jean Charest juge insuffisantes les sommes consentis par Ottawa pour la santé

QUEBEC (PC) - Le chef libéral, Jean Charest, ménage ses critiques à l'endroit du gouvernement fédéral même s'il juge insuffisants les 800 millions$ consentis par Ottawa pour les soins de santé.

Jean Charest a préféré, jeudi matin, s'en prendre au gouvernement péquiste et à l'ADQ, estimant qu'ils n'ont pas la crédibilité pour remettre le système de santé sur les rails et arracher une entente de financement stable à long terme avec Ottawa.

Le chef libéral s'engage à ajouter les 800 millions$ au 1,2 milliard $ qu'il promet d'investir dans le réseau, une fois porté au pouvoir.

Il soutient que l'entente intervenue mercredi illustre la nécessité du transfert de points d'impôt et d'une réforme de la péréquation.

---

Le chef de l'opposition libérale, Jean Charest, s'attend à ce que Bernard Landry déclenche des élections pour avril prochain.

Monsieur Charest estime que son Parti a une longueur d'avance sur ses adversaires au plan de l'organisation et des candidats.

Les députés, candidats et organisateurs pour l'Est du Québec ont tous été réunis pour parler de la stratégie électorale.

Près de la moitié des candidats ont déjà été choisis dans les circonscriptions et les assemblées d'investiture se succèdent.

En RealVideo, regardez le reportage de Robert Plouffe.

2002

Le vendredi 13 septembre 2002
Clavardage avec Jean Charest (on healthcare September 2002)
Modérateur : Bonjour à tous! Bienvenue à cette séance de clavardage exceptionnelle, avec le chef du Parti libéral du Québec, Monsieur Jean Charest. Nous allons commencer dans quelques minutes...

Jean Charest :bonjour à l'équipe de cyberpresse et à tous les internautes, c'est avec plaisir que je me joins à vous pour répondre à vos questions Michelg: Bonjour M Charest, bonjour modérateur, M Charest abolir les régies régionales me semble une des bonnes solutions pour dégager des sommes d'argent dans le système très compressé de la santé mais avec cette récupération, comment résoudre les problèmes en santé? Jean Charest :L'objectif que nous poursuivons est de concentrer toutes nos énergies à livrer des services direct aux patients.

Le vendredi 13 septembre 2002
Jean Charest veut donner plus de marge de manoeuvre aux régions
Under a liberal government, the municipalities could decide themselves of their priorities in the matter of transportation, of culture and of economical development, supported Friday the boss on the part liberal of the Quebec, John Charest, at the time of an encounter with the team éditoriale the newspaper The Tribune.

Selon la proposition du député de Sherbrooke, chaque région pourrait désormais décider de ses propres priorités, selon la «règle de proximité des services».

Le PLQ veut ainsi éliminer le «vieux paternalisme» du Parti québécois qui, en multipliant les «solutions mur à mur» et la mise en tutelle des régions, «n'a pas donné les résultats escomptés», est-il écrit dans le nouveau programme du parti rendu public jeudi.

Monday Aug 12, 2002 TROIS-RIVIERES, QC:
PROVINCIAL LIBERALS PROMISE STREAMLINED GOVERNMENT
Quebec Liberal Leader Jean Charest plans to reduce the size and structure of the province's government if he's elected premier in the next election. Speaking at the end of a conference of young Liberals, Mr. Charest said reducing the size of government can be accomplished with minimal pain because many civil servants plan to retire in the coming years. "We have to look at decentralizing to the regions of Quebec for example and giving them more power," he told reporters. Mr. Charest said he would review the role of some Crown corporations while improving government services like healthcare and education. The Liberal leader also said Finance Minister Pauline Marois's admission that the size of Quebec's debt was $75 billion higher than the $105 billion it previously announced was another sign of the government's budget mismanagement. Both the governing Parti Quebecois and the Liberals have stepped up attacks against Dumont since his party took three of four June byelections to become the hottest political figure in the province. Quebec Premier Bernard Landry must call an election by the fall of 2003.

Sunday Aug 11, 2002 cbc
CHAREST GETS ENDORSEMENT FROM LIBERAL YOUTH WING Members of the Quebec Liberal party's youth wing say they're standing behind leader Jean Charest.

Friday Mar 22, 2002 montreal.cbcCHAREST WON'T BACK SéGUIN PROPOSALS Liberal leader Jean Charest has confirmed his party will not work with the Parti Quebecois government in support of the S&é;guin Commission.

Tuesday Jan 22, 2002 montreal cbc
LANDRY NOT READY FOR HEALTH MEETING: CHAREST Liberal leader Jean Charest says Premier Bernard Landry is going to this week's premiers meeting on health care, poorly prepared. Charest says Landry has no plan to fix the province's health system.

2001

Sat 11/10/01 montreal LIBERALS ADOPT CONSTITUTIONAL PLAN Quebec's Liberal party has adopted a constitutional position that it says will make Quebec a full partner in Canada. The party met in Trois Rivieres this weekend. Liberal Leader Jean Charest says there's a new mood in the country that opens the way for Quebec to strengthen its place in Canada.

October 26, 2001LIBERALS LEAD PQ IN POLL, CHAREST NOT IMPRESSED
Quebec Liberal leader Jean Charest isn't getting too excited despite the latest poll showing that the provincial Liberals are maintaining their lead over the governing Parti Quebecois.

October 13, 2001 Charest Liberals would sweep election if held today: Poll
Factoring in the 10 per cent of voters who remained undecided, the QLP had the support of 49.4 per cent of voters as compared to 33.6 for the governing Parti Quebecois and 15.7 per cent for the Action Democratiqe party. The Liberals and PQ were running nose-to-nose among francophone voters.

Wednesday, September 19, 2001 Francophone voters have warmed to Charest: Liberal
by KEVIN DOUGHERTY Pierre Bibeau, chief organizer for the Quebec Liberal Party, said yesterday he does not believe a Léger Marketing poll suggesting that francophone voters have not warmed to party leader Jean Charest.

24/Aug/2001 SAGUENAY TOWN LOOKS TO CHAREST IN MERGER BATTLE
The mayor of the oldest town in the Saguenay, La Baie, is predicting the provincial Liberals will win seats in the Parti Quebecois stronghold because of their commitment to dissolve forced mergers.

Thu 8/2/01 6:57 AM Charest's vow to undo mergers not believed
Most Montreal Island residents would vote for the Liberal Party if a provincial election were held now, a new poll indicates.
Fifty-four 54 per cent of people responding to a Gazette-Global Television SOM poll said they would vote for the Liberals, compared with 24.8 per cent for the Parti Quebecois. The Action Democratique party would receive the support of 13.8 per cent of voters, while 6.7 per cent said they are undecided.

Sun 3/11/01 8:00 PM
CHAREST BLASTS LANDRY ON SOVEREIGNTY PUSH Quebec Liberal leader Jean Charest said Friday Quebec Premier Bernard Landry "has decided to ignore Quebecers and insult Canadians."

Sat 3/10/01 8:00 PM
CHAREST PREDICTS QUEBEC WILL BE CONFRONTATIONAL WITH ENGLISH CANADA Quebec Liberal Leader Jean Charest says relations between the province and the rest of Canada are about to get much worse.

Mon 3/5/01 7:02 AM PQ message non-starter: Charest By: ALLISON HANES
Quebec's soon-to-be-crowned premier is ignoring the interests of the majority of Quebecers by focusing on sovereignty over social issues, Liberal leader Jean Charest charged yesterday.
Reacting to this weekend's Parti Quebecois national-council meeting in Saint-Hyacinthe, which proclaimed Bernard Landry as leader, Charest said he was disappointed Landry did not address how he plans to tackle such pressing issues as emergency-room overcrowding, chronic unemployment in some regions, and the underfunding of education.

Sat 2/24/01 8:32 AM Bouchard says farewell By: Compiled by JANET BAGNALL The Gazette Quebec So see ya, Lucien. In stark contrast to the wild enthusiasm around his arrival in Quebec City five years ago, there was a sense of anticlimax to Premier Lucien Bouchard's last day in the National Assembly. For one thing, the legislature had been recalled to pass special legislation to keep pharmacists in the province's drug-insurance plan, so the farewell speeches had a tacked-on feeling about them.

Tue 2/20/01 8:00 PM SPECIAL LEGISLATION CAN BE AVOIDED IN PHARMACIST DISPUTE: CHAREST Quebec Liberal leader Jean Charest says the Parti Québécois government should not be in such a hurry to pass special legislation to force independent pharmacists to stay in the provincial drug insurance plan.

Wed 2/21/01 6:32 AM Landry could call spring election, Liberals warn By: ELIZABETH THOMPSON The Gazette Liberal leader Jean Charest put his troops on an election footing yesterday, saying he is convinced a provincial election call could come as early as this spring.
"We will be ready for all the scenarios," Charest told reporters as members of his caucus began a two-day-long retreat to prepare for the coming National Assembly sitting.

Wed 2/14/01 7:24 AM Poll vs. poll By: DON MACPHERSON The Gazette At last, the Quebec Liberals had some momentum going for them. Jean Charest had been getting favourable reviews in the press for his performance as leader since last summer, when he took on veteran strategist Ronald Poupart as his chief of staff. He'd got a 95-per-cent confidence vote from his party at its convention in October. He'd gambled and won by calling for a vote against the Bloc Quebecois in the federal election to protest against the Bouchard government's forced municipal mergers.

11/Feb/2001 Good timing for Charest
By: DON MACPHERSON Jean Charest has turned his guns on Bernard Landry, even though the latter won't become Parti Quebecois leader for at least another three weeks.
This week, Charest said Landry can't run a government. The proof was that Landry, who was acting premier while Lucien Bouchard was off on his farewell world tour, had to call Bouchard and ask him to come home to patch up his cabinet, which was coming unglued.

21/Jan/2001 Charest should have kept his mouth shut
By: NEIL CAMERON Political-party leaders can be thought of as rival chefs, offering rival stews. The meat and potatoes are the social and economic circumstances of the moment, personalities are carrots and the leaders and their advisers choose the seasoning: ideas and policies.
Quebec chefs never seem to get the mixture right, skimping on the meat and potatoes, and dumping in so much seasoning that the voters wind up with tears in their eyes. Lucien Bouchard actually created a fairly satisfactory stew, but one his own party found too bland. Now Jean Charest, in what is very likely to be remembered as one of the most appalling errors of timing in recent history, has suddenly dumped an entire spice rack of indigestible condiments into his own brew.

20/Jan/2001 CHRETIEN DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM CHAREST'S PLANS
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has made it clear he's in no rush to reopen the constitutional debate.

19/Jan/2001 DION OPEN TO REFERENDUM IDEA
Federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion is welcoming the Quebec Liberals' report on constitutional change.
[must we? DTN]

19/Jan/2001 Above all, no referendum
Jean Charest threw open the door this week to a referendum on his party's proposed constitutional platform. The Quebec Liberal leader said he is sure the rest of Canada will eventually come around to accepting constitutional changes for a more "autonomous" Quebec once his party is in power and the Parti Quebecois is gone.
Mr. Charest's thinking is puzzling. Why suggest holding a referendum after campaigning on not having one in 1998? Why take away one of his best arguments for the next election campaign: the need to avoid another divisive and wrenching referendum when the economy needs so much attention instead?

18/Jan/2001 CHAREST TALKS REFERENDUM
Liberal leader Jean Charest has opened the door to holding a referendum on the constitution. The Liberal party released its preliminary report Tuesday on constitutional change.

18/Jan/2001 LIBERAL MNA DEFENDS CHAREST
The Liberal MNA for Jacques Cartier says Quebecers should not expect a referendum on constitutional change any time soon. Geoff Kelly is defending Liberal Leader Jean Charest who raised the prospect of a referendum when he released the party's constitutional position in Quebec City on Tuesday.
montreal.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/view?/news/2001/01/17/keelly010117

18/Jan/2001 LEGAULT TO BACK MAROIS FOR LEADERSHIP
An alliance may be forming between Health Minister Pauline Marois and Education Minister Francois Legault.

17/Jan/2001
CHAREST PONDERS REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
Quebec Liberal leader Jean Charest has opened the door to holding a referendum to approve changes to the constitution.

17/Jan/2001 Charest is open to referendum on updated federalism By: SEAN GORDON The Gazette Jean Charest has left the door open to an eventual referendum on a cornucopia of Meech Lake-style constitutional improvements that would be presented within the first mandate of a Liberal government.
The Liberal leader also served notice to Prime Minister Jean Chretien that last November's election result doesn't mean Quebecers want the status quo, and that changes to Canadian federalism are inevitable.

22/Dec/2000 Charest wades in
By: KEVIN DOUGHERTY The Gazette
The refusal by Premier Lucien Bouchard to reject Yves Michaud as a Parti Quebecois candidate has prolonged the controversy stirred up by Michaud's finger-pointing at Quebec Jews, Liberal leader Jean Charest said yesterday.
"Mr. Bouchard should have said right away that Michaud could not be a candidate," Charest told reporters at his press conference to mark the adjournment of the National Assembly until March 13.

Oct 16, 2000 Liberal convention wraps up with call for changes to health care as more than 95% voted approval. ...approved a patients' bill of rights for the health system, ..voted to end discrimination against same sex couples. ... undo any forced amalgamations if the Liberals win ... Report cards for schools and teachers

Sat Oct 14, 2000 Quebec Liberals rate Charest's leadership QUEBEC CITY - Quebec Liberal leader Jean Charest faces his first leadership review since he took the job on a wave of popularity more than two years ago. Click

Saturday, April 01, 2000 Charest unfazed by poor poll result ...now in third place, 10 percentage points behind Mario Dumont ..found only 16.2 per cent of francophone respondents thought Charest would make the best premier, while 26.4 per cent chose Dumont. Premier Lucien Bouchard was well in advance, with 44.9-per-cent support among francophones and 39.2 per cent over-all

Saturday, April 01, 2000 Charest unfazed by poor poll result ...now in third place, 10 percentage points behind Mario Dumont ..found only 16.2 per cent of francophone respondents thought Charest would make the best premier, while 26.4 per cent chose Dumont. Premier Lucien Bouchard was well in advance, with 44.9-per-cent support among francophones and 39.2 per cent over-all

Tuesday 9 May 2000

Charest casts Net for E-supporters

SEAN GORDON

For his first-ever venture into the world of Internet chatting, Jean Charest, Liberal politician and two-fingered typist, sat in his shirtsleeves, elbows on knees, and dictated answers as questions flashed up on the computer screen before him.
[Editor's note Jean Charest has never seen this page (up since 10 Mar 1998) while we have sent many messages to him and his crew. NO MESSAGES HAVE BEEN REPLIED TO. They ignore the English!? DTN]

Wednesday 2 December 1998 Bouchard's new tact For now, premier isn't talking about referendums or winning conditions by DON MACPHERSON photo (saved)

---

Monday 4 October 1999

Charest rejects chances of two-tier health system

ELIZABETH THOMPSON

Quebec Liberal leader Jean Charest gestured yesterday during his closing speech to a party general council meeting in Saint-Georges-de-Beauce.

... and Liberal values include a one-tiered health-care system."

"The Quebec Liberal party is not a sect...."

Charest defended the fact he wasn't present for Saturday's health-care debate, arguing that he was busy with other things at the time.

At a workshop ..religious instruction that conforms to their beliefs.

"It is an issue that is difficult," Charest told delegates. "The answers aren't decided in advance, and it is an issue that puts our values to the test."

With the PQ, the citizen is at the service of the state, he said. The result is that citizens are handcuffed by taxes, structures and regulations.

"Imagine what Quebecers will be able to do the day there is a Liberal government when we unhandcuff them, we lower income taxes, we deregulate, we get rid of structures and give Quebecers a chance to work."

Do we belive this?

Friday 5 March 1999 Quebec's marooned - Charest The Parti Quebecois government has marooned itself through its insistence on preaching sovereignty to a public that doesn't want another referendum, according to Liberal leader Jean Charest. [the real problem is Charest .. he is the one talking about this subject and the only one ... LB is just making a few comments to keep his troups happy .. No Vote until a winning vote! If Charest does not find something to offer or talk about that winning vote may be sooner DTN]

Sunday 28 February 1999 Common sense gets a chance by GRETTA CHAMBERS With the opening of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Jean Charest and his Liberal caucus will take up the job for which they were elected. The Quebec Liberal Party will become relevant on a daily basis. It will be on trial as an effective opposition. [and it will fail unless it finds a leader.. with a brain.. or an ability to listen DTN]

Friday 5 March 1999 Our gloom has lifted, poll finds Quebecers are feeling better about life, and the economy, than we have in years. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents to a CROP poll said things are going well or very well. Feeling a little less gloomy these days, despite the lousy weather? You're probably not alone. [last spring Charest was our great light but not this yearb he has had nothing to do with our chear.. we got there without him and ..inspite of him DTN]

Friday 5 March 1999 PQ policy stuck: Charest>/a> End referendum obsession, fix health-care system, Liberal leader says. [when did this nut last give a talk without using word referendum! Jonny one note! "Humpty dumpy" has fallen! DTN]

Friday 5 March 1999
Obstacles to mobility hurt all Canadians Liberal leader Jean Charest also believes the Quebec government shouldn't forgo its power to set policy that creates obstacles to mobility. In fact, Bouchard was quoting Charest when he said the deal would threaten "la specificite Quebecoise" if he had agreed to live by national norms that safeguard mobility for citizens. ...

- Anyone with a medicare card can get emergency treatment anywhere in the country. But if a Quebecer walks into a doctor's office in Winnipeg with a medical problem, there's a good chance he'll be asked to pay cash up front and seek reimbursement later from Quebec. That's because Quebec is the only province that refuses to pay the doctor his normal fee. Quebec reimburses according to its own fee schedule at lower rates than in most other provinces. Quebec now makes an exception for people who live near the Ontario border because so many seek care on the Ontario side.

J. Charest

Wednesday 17 February 1999 Beep, beep Watch out! Charest is backing up DON MACPHERSON Jean Charest should be equipped with a beeper, like the ones on trucks that warn people to get out of the way when they shift into reverse.

Because in his short career so far as Quebec Liberal Party leader, Charest has already established a tendency to back down under pressure from positions he's taken. Sometimes it's because he took those positions too hastily to begin with, apparently without thinking them through first.

His latest backdown is over the recent social-union agreement among Ottawa and the provinces, except for Quebec.

Wednesday 2 December 1998
Bouchard's new tact For now, premier isn't talking about referendums or winning conditions by DON MACPHERSON photo (saved)

Calm your referendum fears Finding the inner francophone is the best soother for anglo Quebecers JOSH FREED There are two kinds of people walking the streets of Montreal these days: the ones with furrowed brows and haunted faces, awaiting Monday's election as if it were anglo Armageddon, and the ones with calm, cheerful faces, going about life as though Monday will be nothing but a boring provincial election.

May 98 JEAN CHAREST: THE NEW CHAMPION? cbc Great Expectations

Let's Talk about it

Saturday 14 November 1998
Quebec voters in two camps Unlike nous autres, francophones don't expect another referendum by JOSH FREED

• Saturday 12 September 1998 - Norman Webster - Don't write off Charest (saved)
  
  
• Saturday 5 September 1998 Liberal leader is offside ..Mr. Charest has been out of step, not only with with Quebec federalists but with many separatists.
  
  
• Saturday 5 September 1998 Where's the fire? 'Charest peaked the night of his leadership crowning,' one observer says, 'and it's been downhill ever since. It's as if he doesn't feel like doing the job.' by PHILIP AUTHIER
  
  
• Thursday 20 August 1998 More key players in UDI by TERRANCE WILLS There did seem to be uncanny foresight to the position Jean Charest took on the Supreme Court case.
  
  
• Wednesday 17 June 1998 False step on unity ...But the Liberals' preferred method of attack - the $20-million unity budget in the Canadian Information Office - is a bad choice, especially if it is used during a Quebec election campaign.(saved)
  
  
• Tuesday 16 June 1998 Charest draws line Won't let Ottawa interfere in Quebec's jurisdictions Jean Charest marked his turf yesterday, telling Prime Minister Jean Chretien the federal and provincial Liberals won't be best buddies. (saved)
  
  
  • A talk about Leadership Wed 835 in Quebec March 4th., 1998
    
    
  • Wednesday Night # 841 Apr 15/98 AN EVENING AT THE NICHOLSONS
    
    
  • Wednesday 10 June 1998 Mulroney aided Charest switch New Liberal chief coddled by young, inexperienced advisers: biographer HUBERT BAUCH (saved)
    
    

Saturday 6 June 1998 Charest's message goes over well Gets standing ovation after outlining economic plight by PHILIP AUTHIER .... it now costs Quebec businesses $5,000 to create a single new job because of high payroll taxes, compared with $3,200 to create the same job in Ontario.

Quebec last year received only 17 per cent of private investment in Canada, and created only 7.8 per cent of new jobs created in Canada in the last two years. Disposal income in Quebec in the last two years has gone down 1.8 per cent.(saved)

Premier Lucien Bouchard gestured as he testified yesterday.

• Thursday 11 June 1998 Calgary pact is dead in the water: Bouchard The Calgary Declaration is dead, Premier Lucien Bouchard pronounced by ELIZABETH THOMPSON (saved)
  
  
• Thursday 14 May 1998 - Paul Wells - PQ reduced to heckling guy in front Landry lumps Charest in with Lord Durham because of Charest's attempts to "do away with the Quebec people." Bouchard launches an inquest into the dangers posed by the Calgary Declaration, a document that was beneath his contempt until Charest expressed lukewarm affection for it.

  Bouchard calls Charest a dangerous man who "insults all Quebec francophones, who fight every day so that we preserve French."
  
  

• Only 61 words in Accord
  
  
• Me Simon Potter on A Time for all good Federalists ….
  
• John CIACCIA pages
  
  

  The 61 words For the record they are: "(Point 5) In Canada's federal system, where respect for diversity and equality underlies unity, the unique character of Quebec society, including its French speaking majority, its culture, and its tradition of civil law, is fundamental to the well-being of Canada. Consequently, the legislature and Government of Quebec have a role to protect and develop the unique character of Quebec society within Canada." Thanks to Log Cabin Chronicles

  
  
  
• Wednesday 29 April 1998 Charest's instincts right on health DON MACPHERSON (saved)
  
  

Diana Thébaud Nicholson & Jean Charest
at 33 Rosrmount Ave.

A talk about Leadership

Wednesday Night # 841 Apr 15/98
AN EVENING AT THE NICHOLSONS

John CIACCIA pages

protest = a lot of noise The site has a set of links to activist Web sites all over the country. The featured sites celebrate causes that tend to be right of centre like "Protest the Wheat Board Monopoly," or "Bring Back the Death Penalty."

March 17, 1997 Jean Charest’s promises lack credibility JUST LIKE MULRONEY, CHAREST IS PROMISING JOBS etc

18 December 1999 leader of the Quebec Liberal Party has faced the same persistent problem over the last three decades: how to attract the support of nationalist francophones who might otherwise be tempted to vote for the Parti Quebecois (saved)

Mar 4th Daniel Johnson retires by Herbert Bercovitz

click for New News

Mar 4th Daniel Johnson retires by Herbert Bercovitz

What if Charest said no? Some in Liberal caucus oppose petitioning the Tory leader because they fear party will suffer if he declines leadership CP; Edmonton Journal ..."I don't think that sends the (right) message," said Mont-Royal John Ciaccia writer

---

visit the Johnson Family page