Quebec nationalists should beware of Liberals, Greens and NDP, Legault says

Quebec PremierFranois Legault had harsh words for the federal Liberals, NDP and Greens following Wednesday's French-languageleaders' debate, and is urging nationalists in the province to be wary of those partiesas they weigh their options ahead of the upcoming election.

Speaking with reporters in Quebec City on Thursday, Legaultsaid thestances of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Leader Annamie Paulon health andimmigration matters are "worrisome" for Quebec.

Legaultwas methodical, praisingthe federalleaders' stances that alignwith his government's key policies and criticizing those that do not and concluded that a minority government was the ideal result for him.

"Listen, in the current context, given that no party is addressing all of our needs, I think we're obliged to say that for the Quebec nation, that would be best," he said in response to a journalist asking about a minority outcome.

Although he insisted that he does not want to tell Quebecers who to vote for on Sept. 20, the Coalition Avenir Qubecpremier all but said that a Conservative-ledgovernment would be better for the province.

"What I'm saying is Quebecers who are nationalists, that want the Quebec nation to have more power, have to bewareof three partiesthe Liberal Party, the NDP and the Green Party," Legault said.

WATCH |Why Franois Legault is gambling on O'Toole:

Why Franois Legault is gambling on O'Toole: our election panel weighs in

3 years ago

Duration 6:45

Columnist milie Nicolas and Lger Marketing's Christian Bourque are CBC Montreal News' Federal Election Panel.

Legault was visibly irked by those parties' intentions to intervenein health-care matters, which are under provincial jurisdiction.

He said managing a provincialhealth network "is complex enough" without Ottawa attaching conditions to health transfers to the provinces.

"The Quebec nation wants more autonomy, not less autonomy," hesaid.

Legaultpraised Conservative Leader Erin O'Toolefor his commitment to increase transfers by $60 billion over the next ten years with no strings attached even if, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office,very little of that money would be given to provinces in the next five yearsand for his refusal to get involved in any constitutional challenge of the province's controversial religious symbols law.

During the first French-language debate, Trudeau reiterated his stance from the last campaign, saying he wouldn't rule out involvement from the federal government in such a challenge.

O'Toole didn't completely escape criticism from Legault, however.

His plan to scrap the Liberals' intentionto transfer $6 billion over five years to fund Quebec's child-care system and insteadintroducea tax credit to help parents pay for daycare didn't go over well with the Quebec premier.

"I think Mr. O'Toole needs to explain himself," Legault said.

During his brief exchange with reporters on Thursday, Legault barely mentioned Bloc Qubcois Leader Yves-Franois Blanchet.

Wednesday'sevent was the second and last French-language debate of the federal election campaign. The party leaders will square off again tonight, this time in English.