Support for Quebec sovereignty wanes, poll suggests

A poll released Monday suggests support for the sovereignty movement in Quebec is fading, with only about one-third of Quebecers who answered the Leger Marketing poll saying they would vote to separate if there was a referendum.

That's down five points since May. The poll, conducted online, also shows a drop in support for the Parti Qubcois, from about 40 per cent last September, to 24 per cent.

That puts the separatist party 10 points behind Premier Jean Charest's front-running Liberals.

However, Charest did not come out on top when the 1,000 people polled were asked who would make the best premier. Only 20 per cent chose the current premier, while 24 per cent of respondents chose Franois Legault, the former PQcabinet ministerwho hasformed a right-wing coalition focusing on social and economic reform, over sovereignty.

Parti Qubcois Leader Pauline Marois came in third, with 15 per cent of respondents saying she would be the best premier.

The margin of error in the poll is plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20. It was conducted from Aug. 17-20 for QMI.

Christian Bourque of Leger Marketing said support for the sovereignty movement has continued to dwindle since the Bloc Qubcois' poor showing in last spring's federal election.

"The whole sovereignty movement is in turmoil right now," he said. "I think the separatist movement needs to recognize that for people under the age of 40, the way that they express their pride in the French language, their pride in being Quebecois, is not the same as it used to be."

The turmoil has been feltwithin the Parti Qubcois, which has seeninfighting and a number of high-profile defections. Some of those who left the party have started their own sovereignty movement calledLe Nouveau Mouvement pour le Qubec.

Bourque said division amongst the movement could fare well for Charest's Liberals,or for Legault if he were to turn his movement into a full-fledged political party.

"Three quarters of Quebecers say Quebec is headed in the wrong direction and needs change," said Bourque. "And right now, Mr. Legault represents that change."