CAQ hopes to make inroads in West Island ahead of fall election

FranoisLegault,leader of the Coalition Avenir Qubec, made an unofficial campaign appearance in Montreal's West Island, known as a fortress for the Liberals, Saturday.

Legault, clad in jeans and a casual dark blue button-up, met with customers at theMarch de l'Ouest inDollard-des-Ormeaux.

The move signals the CAQ is trying to make a dent with Quebec anglophonesahead of the October provincial election.

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He told the voters he met inDollard-des-Ormeauxhe'd focus on the economy and making the province more profitable for anglophones and francophones.

"We all have to work together," he said.

A new alternative?

Quebec Finance Minister CarlosLeitocurrently represents theelectoral district of Robert-Baldwin, which includes a portion of Pierrefonds and DDO.

DDOresident and political newcomer LauraAzroual, 28, will be running againstLeito. She joined Legaultat the informal meet and greet on Saturday.

"The West Islanders haven't had a chance to vote for someone other than the [PartiQubcois]," as an alternative to the Liberals,Azroual told CBC News."I'm happy to be here."

Another prominent Liberal in the area, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Geoffrey Kelley, recently announced he would be leaving politics, after a long legacy of championing West Island projects.

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He says it'll take more than meet and greets to win over West Islanders.

"You won't find in CAQ speeches, much enthusiasm for Canada. They say, 'Well, we won't do another referendum,'" Kelley said of the CAQ's efforts to make inroads in the West Island. "But Ithink people out here expect a lot more."