It was the topic of the day in the National Assembly, with Liberal (QLP) MNA Marc Tanguay making the accusation. “Do you really think François Lego will miss his chance? I do not think so. It is obvious,” Tanguai said. “François Lego was, by far, one of the most devoted separatists when he was with [Parti Quebecois]. “ The CAQ denied the allegations, with French Minister Simon Jolin Barrette confirming the party’s view that Quebec is part of Canada. During the last election, Legault himself said that the CAQ government would never hold a referendum on Quebec independence. “I am clear in French and English: A CAQ government will never hold a referendum on sovereignty. Not in the first term, not in the second. Never,” he said in August 2018. But Tanguay is not buying it, claiming that CAQ will bring it to another referendum when the time is right. He believes the CAQ’s avoidance of the inflammatory “word R” – referendum – is “the new strategy” for separating Quebec from the rest of the nation. Meanwhile, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) – a party with an overwhelming goal of domination – has been troubled by the CAQ’s avoidance of the “S-word”. “Obviously, they are not even able to say the word [sovereignity]Said PQ leader Pierre Plamondon. “It’s so hard for them to even mention this possibility. The comments follow the prime minister’s recent announcement of two new CAQ candidates, Bernard Drainville and Caroline St-Hilarie, both of whom have ties to the mainstream movement. Although Drainville is a former PQ secretary, he has since expressed his favor for the CAQ’s “nationalist” approach, which he says is fighting for a stronger Quebec within Canada. He said Quebec residents no longer had an “appetite” for the sovereignty debate. “I have always been a nationalist first and foremost and I have taken stock of the fact that the people of Quebec have moved beyond this debate,” he said on Tuesday. On Sunday, Legault also announced the candidacy of Caroline St-Hilaire, a former Bloc Quebecois minister. St-Hilaire is known to be a devoted sovereign and has openly criticized the Legault government’s priorities in the past. Quebec has already held two referendums on the issue, one in 1980 and again in 1995. In both cases, a small majority of Quebec residents voted “no” to independence.