Tories brace for campaign in Quebec

There is no shortage of political landmines in Quebec for a federal Conservative party desperately seeking a majority.

Quebecpremier Jean Charest has actively campaigned against them in the past, while one influential mayor warns they have already committed political "suicide."

But the Tories are preparing to tread carefully on a number of controversial files, crafting a strategy that will favour localized announcements over sweeping campaign promises.

At stake are 11 Conservative seats and a few additional swing ridings in the province that could make or break the party's hopes of forming that elusive majority government.

A federal election could further stall a compensation deal between Quebec and Ottawa over theharmonized sales tax, Conservative MP and Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis said Wednesday.

'Third election in six years, it's not very efficient for the country. We have better ways of spending our money.' Luc Brisette,Montreal West Island resident

Quebec and the federal government have been working on a deal for months. The dealwould compensate Quebec for implementing the HST in the 1990s.

The province has sent a draft agreement to Ottawa, but Paradis said Wednesday that an election campaign could stall negotiations.

Charest pledges neutrality in future campaign

Quebec Premier Jean Charest appeared to be onside with that patient approach towards theHST issue.

"What we want is that the issue is resolved,"he told reporters in Quebec City.

"Whether it's resolved before a campaign, during, or after what's important is that it's resolved and that it's resolved properly."

Quebec Finance Minister Raymond Bachand suggested Ottawa still could sign a deal before any federal election, warning the HST could be a hot campaign issue.

Charest insisted that his government will be officially neutral and won't back any particular party in the upcoming campaign.

That would be a welcome change for the Conservatives; Charest helped spoil their chances at forming a majority in 2008 byblasting their cuts to arts funding.

Bloc wanted $2.2B deal

Bloc Qubcois Leader Gilles Duceppe spoke out against the budget shortly after it was delivered Tuesday, saying it didn't meet his main demand for a $2.2 billion HST deal.

"It's just unacceptable. We said it was a condition. It is not met, so we can't support that budget," he said.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he's not ready to hand over the money before a proper deal is struck.

"That's not the way it works," he said. "We didn't do it for other provinces, and we're not about to do it for the province of Quebec."

British Columbia and Ontario have already received compensation payments for harmonizing their sales taxes.

Voters cool to election idea

On Wednesday, some voters in Montreal's West Island riding of Lac-St-Louis said the prospect of a spring election was discouraging.

"Third election in six years, it's not very efficient for the country. We have better ways of spending our money," said constituent Luc Brisette.

It appears unofficial campaigning has already begunin their riding, with several people reporting having received automated phone messages from Conservative Senator Larry Smith.

Smith, the former President of the Montreal Alouettes, will challenge incumbent Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia in Lac-St-Louis.

Christian Bourque, a pollster with Lger Marketing,saidrecent polling data shows most voters are happy with the status quo.

"If people are somewhat comfortable with the current arrangement, their appetite for an election is probably just not there," said Bourque.