"It wasn't my choice!"

"It was not my choice," Mr. Mulcair categorically stated in his opening remarks, but left the reasons for his decision hanging in the air, providing no further information about the circumstances surrounding his departure from the riding and from politics, at least for now.

Saying that he had neither met nor been contacted by his Liberal replacement, Guy Ouellette, Mr. Mulcair was quick to point out that he had little doubt that the Liberal Party of Quebec would retain the Chomedey seat, given the enormous support the party has had throughout the history of the riding.

Attempts by Courrier Laval Weekly News to speak to Mr. Ouellette concerning the apparently strained relations with Mr. Mulcair and the Chomedey riding association, evident in the departure of most of the members of the board of directors including president Jeanne Landry, proved fruitless.

"Mr. Ouellette is presently meeting with Senator Lise Bacon," campaign manager Gilles Cloutier told Courrier Laval Weekly News in a brief conversation at the Chomedey campaign office shortly after Mr. Mulcair had publicly revealed that to date there had been no communication with the man who hopes to replace him as Chomedey MNA.

When asked whether the meeting with Senator Bacon meant that the former Chomedey MNA (1981-1994), would throw her support behind Mr. Ouellette, Mr. Cloutier quickly replied that the plan was for Mrs. Bacon to be present at the Thursday evening rally to mark the official opening of the Chomedey Liberal campaign headquarters, and that her endorsement of Mr. Ouellette was anticipated.

When the request to speak to Mr. Ouellette was repeated, Mr. Cloutier gave assurance that a telephone interview would be arranged. By press time, the interview had not taken place.

"I have not spoken to Senator Bacon for a few months, but she and I have had very cordial relations, and she was very supportive throughout the Mount Orford affair," Mr. Mulcair stated in a telephone conversation from his riding office. Mr. Mulcair intimated that he would neither be surprised nor put off by Senator Bacon's endorsement of his successor.

"Mr. Dumont has learned a lot from his previous experiences. He is now a seasoned politician with a talent for concisely summing up in very powerful statements what he feels and what the people want to hear," Mr. Mulcair stated, adding that it would be a big mistake for Jean Charest to underestimate the inroads that Mr. Dumont and the ADQ can make throughout the province.

The drive to form the next government of Quebec has become a three-way race, and a tight one at that, Mr. Mulcair cautioned. "A lot will hang on the performance of Boisclair, Charest, and Dumont in the March 13 leaders debate," Mr. Mulcair pointed out. "If Jean Charest, a consummate debater with excellent preparation, is at his best, he'll dominate the affair."

Mr. Mulcair, who's been in a few debates of his own in the13 years he served in the National Assembly, concluded that Mr. Charest will win the debate hands down if he can make Andre Boisclair look like his usual stubborn mule who overplays a single issue or two, while also effectively counteracting the quick verbal jabs for which the populist Mario Dumont has become widely renowned.

(Photo: Maya)