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Quebec separatists distance party from referendum
SAINT-HYACINTHE, Quebec (Reuters) -- Quebec Premier Bernard Landry distanced his Parti Quebecois on Saturday from the idea of holding another referendum on the French-speaking province's possible secession from Canada if the party is re-elected next month. "A third term without any referendum is possible," Landry, whose party on Wednesday called provincial elections for April 14, told reporters. Landry, 66, has pledged in the past to hold a referendum on Quebec's separation by 2005 if polls were favorable. His remarks on Saturday were the first time he has clearly raised the possibility of not calling a referendum. "I don't want to commit myself to a referendum and I will not," Landry told a news conference, although he said independence was "the only way of future" for the province and stressed he was not ruling out a referendum. The Parti Quebecois, which has been in power in the province since 1994, advocates Quebec's separation from Canada, although the issue has been on hold since a 1995 referendum on sovereignty was narrowly defeated. Most polls show that the Parti Quebecois and the "pro-Canada " Quebec Liberals of Jean Charest are neck and neck, with the conservative Action Democratique Party of Mario Dumont trailing behind. Both opposition parties are against Quebec's separation. Landry's party met in the city of Saint-Hyacinthe near Montreal on Saturday to adopt its election program. The program focuses on balanced public finances and more money for families, the public health system and the education sector, and calls for no new taxes. A key element of the program is a proposal to have companies allow employees with children under 12 to work four-day weeks. But most of the attention at the gathering of 400 party delegates was focused on the question of Quebec independence. Polls indicate that between 42 and 45 percent of Quebecers support full autonomy for the province of 7.3 million people. The election plan adopted on Saturday states that the Parti Quebecois will prepare the ground for independence if re-elected on April 14. "The goal of the Parti Quebecois is not to hold a referendum but to achieve sovereignty. It is out of question to skip stages or to force the population to make choices it does no wish," the 103-page document says. "Quebec can't miss its next rendezvous with history," it adds. Copyright 2003 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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