Pauline Marois calls Couillard's distinct society musings 'dangerous'

Philippe Couillard sayshes in no rush to discuss Quebecs place in Canada, less than 24 hours after promising a series of meetings with federal and provincial leaders to push forQuebec's recognition as a distinct societyif elected premier on April 7.

On Saturday, Couillardspecified that he would meet with other provincial leaders to discuss economic issues above all, saying there's no urgent need to discussconstitutional matters.

"Are we unhappy right now in Quebec? Are we facing a crisis? Are our freedoms threatened? No, Quebecs doing well. Im saying that once discussions around the Constitution open up at the request of the rest of the country, around the issue of the Senate, for example,Ill be there to defend Quebecs historic demands. Thats my job, he said on the campaign trail on Saturday.

Parti Qubcois leader Pauline Marois saidCouillardwould have to take any questions about the Constitution toQuebecersbefore discussing them with federal, provincial and territorial counterparts.

"No premier, whether they were federalist and sovereignist, has agreed to sign the Constitution," she said. "Mr. Couillard is taking a dangerous road."

Distinct trouble

The status of distinct society for Quebec has proven troublesomefor Canada's political leaders in the past.

Pro-independence forces have repeatedly cited the absence ofQuebec's signature on the 1982 Constitution as an example thatfederalism is a failure.

In the 1980s and 1990s, then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney failed toget Quebec included in the Constitution.

Couillardinsisted Saturday that he would rather leave a legacy of jobs than a new round of Constitutional talks.

"If you asked me what I would rather achieve after four years as premier, between 250,000 jobs or talking about the Constitution, I would pick 250,000 jobs," he said.