Quebec party leaders preparing for key debate

CBC News Network will carry the French-language debate for the leaders of four of Quebec's political party leaders live with English translation tonight from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. It will also be streamed online at CBCNews.ca, and through the CBC News app.

Liberal Leader Jean Charest,leader of the Parti Qubcois, Pauline Marois, Coalition Avenir Qubec Leader Franois Legault andFranoise David, a Qubec Solidaire co-spokesperson,will battle for votes in the debate.

The upstart Quebec sovereigntist party Option Nationalefailed to secure a spot in the debatewhen a Quebec court turned down its bid for an injunctionthat would have forced CBC's French-language service, Radio-Canada, as well as Tl-Qubec and TVA to include Jean-Martin Aussant, the party's leader and sole MNA,in the debates.

Aussant was one of six PQ legislators who quit the party in June 2011. He sat as as an Independent before launching Option Nationale.

During a campaign stop Saturday in Laval to talk about a plan to increase the number of parking spaces in the Montreal area to improve public transit use,Charest said he knows everyone will be gunning for him.Hedidn't seemto be fazed by it.

"I will be the target. There's no doubt about that," the premiersaid. "You know that. I know that. I have have been the target for the last four years, frankly, and that's what this debate will be about, sowe'll just have to deal with it."

Public opinion pollsshow the PQleads theLiberals and the Coalition Avenir Qubec.

Sunday's debate, organized by a consortium of broadcasters, will be held at the Radio-Canada studios in downtown Montreal.