Pauline Marois won't participate in English debate

Pauline Marois says she won't take part in an English-language leaders debate, citing her comfort level in the languageand existing dialogue with the province's anglophone population.

Maroissaid, "it's a no," when asked if she would participate in the debate organized by a consortium of English media.

The request,sent Monday morning by email to the Coalition Avenir Qbec, the PartiQubcois, the Quebec Liberal Party and Qubec Solidaire, was signed by CBC Quebec news director Mary-Jo Barr,CTVMontreal news director JedKahane, Global Quebec news director Karen MacDonald,CJADprogram and news director Chris Bury and the Gazette Editorial page editor David Johnston.

The group asked for a 90-minute debate in English, to be broadcast live on television, radioand online in the last two weeks of the campaign.

The leaders of the province's other three major political parties had already indicated they were open to theidea of anEnglish-language debate.

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Coalition AvenirQubec LeaderFranoisLegaultresponded on Monday, sayingthat he would "discuss the feasibility" of his participation in a such adebate.

Liberal LeaderPhilippeCouillardand Qubec Solidairerepresentatives havereplied, saying they were prepared to participate.

Marois said she had already addressed, and rejected, the question of a debate in English years ago.

"I am able to speak in English and I think I improved my English, but I dont think I will be very comfortable in a debate for explaining my specific point of view and I dont think that will serve theAnglo Quebecers," shesaid after making a campaign announcement this morning inDrummondville.

"But I am able to have a dialogue with the Anglo Quebecers and I proved that in the past and I will continue to do that in the future."