Opponents question CAQ leader Franois Legault on his sovereigntist past

The leader of the Coalition Avenir Qubec is being questioned over sovereigntist views he's expressed in the past, as the partytries to build on its narrow lead in opinion polls ahead of next fall's provincial election.

FranoisLegault, who is aformerPartiQubcoisMNA, says he rejects those positions now, and would instead call himself a nationalist.

"I prefer the term nationalist, because federalist is more subject to the status quo,"Legaultsaid at the CAQ's national convention, which kicked off today in Lvis, Que.

In the latest pollsahead of provincial elections in October, the party held themostpublic support, narrowlyedging out the governing Quebec Liberals.

The CAQ'sconfidence is evident and it's trying to maintain that momentum, as 800people are expected to attend this weekend's event.

Formed in November 2011, the party has alsobrought on several candidates with past ties to other Quebec political partiesin the last two weeks.

The latest additions, Stphane Le Bouyonnecand Nadine Girault, were announced today. Both candidates have histories with the PQ and the PLQ, respectively.

SvetlanaSolomykina will also be running for the CAQ in the Taschereau riding, after she debated, but decided against,joining the PLQ.

Sovereigntist to nationalist?

"A strong Quebec inside a strong Canada" has been the CAQ's slogan for some time now.

However, Legault has along history with the PQ, serving as anMNAwith the party for over 10 years.

He was appointed Minister for Industry and Commerce under LucienBouchard'sPQ government in 1988, and was later named Minister of Education.

He announced his retirement from politics in June 2009, and started theCAQtwo years later, in November 2011.

That hasled rival politicians to question his currentstance on the issue of Quebec sovereignty.

Speaking at the PQ's national council meeting, which was also held today, partyleaderJean-FranoisLise said it would be "very risky to have Legault as premier."

Jean-Martin Aussant, a PQ candidate and rising star within the party, said the last time he spoke to Legault, the CAQ leader "was a sovereigntist."

Aussant has been in and out of the PQ himself. He started his own party in 2011, called Option nationale, which merged with Qubec Solidaireearlier this year.

Marc Laviolette, theformer head of the province's federation of trade unions and a member of the PQ,said he believes Legault is an opportunist.

"He wants to be the head of something. He wants to be the premier," Laviolettesaid. "He's ready to say whatever he needs to get elected."

For his part, Quebec Premier and PLQ leader Philippe Couillard said Wednesday that he doubtsLegault is a true federalist.

He said Legaulthas not shown a real commitment to the country.

"[Legault] tolerates Canada,nothing more," Couillard said.

Legaultwould axe Pink Line project

Another contentious point made at the CAQconvention Saturday was Legault's assertion that if elected premier, he would axe the Pink Line project in Montreal.

A north-southMetro line that would run through the city's core, the Pink Line has the backing of Montreal Mayor ValriePlante, whopitched it during her mayoral campaign last fall.

Legaultsaid he doesn'tbelieve there would be enough ridership to make the line worth it.

Soon after, Plante took to Twitter, defending the project in a thread of six tweets.

"Notwithstanding the position the CAQannounced this morning, we will continue to advance the Pink Line project, which is currently the only solution to Montreal public transit's saturation issues," shewrote.