Alexandre Cloutier confident ahead of PQ leadership vote

With voting for thePartiQubcois's ninth leader set to begin tomorrow,CBC Montreal'sDaybreak is spending the next few dayschecking inwith the four candidates in the running.

On Friday, host MikeFinnertyspoke toJean-FranoisLise. Today, he spoke toAlexandreCloutier, who was considered the early frontrunner but whoseholdon the top job may not be a sure thing anymore.

Mike Finnerty: Why is the race so close?

Alexandre Cloutier:Good question. We'll have to answer that after the race. Now, what I can tell you is we're very close and we're about to have it.

MF:Could it be the identity politics, things like Jean-Francois Lise associating you with Adil Charkaoui,bringing up burkas and bombs and AK-47s, is that the kind of thing that's made it so close?

AC: Yes that's part of it. There are a few reasons but it's too soon to analyze.

MF:Do you think it's been a fair contest?

AC:I don't think the comparison to Charkaoui was right and it wasn't accurate, but that's part of the game and I know the rules.It was quite unfortunate but it's passed now and I've turned the page.

MF: When Lise was on the program Friday, we asked him about systemic racism. Lise said he thinks systemic racism exists here in Quebec. What do you think?

AC: Yes it does exist, but I'm not sure Lise had that idea at the beginning of the race. But that's another subject.
I definitely think we have to work harder to make sure we lower the unemployment rate in certain communities and to make sure we have equality ofchances for everyone.

MF: Should there be a commission?

AC:I did approve [the idea of having a commission] right from the start.I definitely think it's a good idea and it's part of the moves we should [make].

MF: What are your views on the anglophone community in Quebec?One idea that has often been put forward by the PQ is the idea to make Bill 101 rules apply to anglophone CEGEPs. What's your view on that?

AC:I do not support that idea. I don't think that's the right decision to make. I think there are other issues more important for now, making sure we have a francophone environment at work and that's something we want to work on.I don't think any candidate wants to bring back the idea to apply Bill 101 to CEGEPs.

MF:No, but Martine Ouellet wants to get rid of English on all commercial signs.

AC: Yes. That's true, but she's the only candidate to bring [up] that idea.

MF: How important is the anglophone community to Quebec?

AC:It's definitely part of the culture and identity of Quebec.I supported the EnglishMontreal SchoolBoard in their [fight] to keep school board elections.It's part of our history, it's part of who we are. We just have to make sure everything is well-balanced.

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