Federal politicians keep wary eye open, mouths shut on Quebec election

OTTAWA – Federal politicians say they’re keeping their noses out of the Quebec election campaign, even if they have an opinion on who shouldn’t win.

Parti Quebecois Premier Pauline Marois announced the next provincial election will be held on April 7.

Despite Marois’ commitment to Quebec sovereignty, Conservative cabinet minister Denis Lebel says the only time he’ll intervene is to correct the record on his government’s accomplishments.

Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair also says he’ll let the campaign unfold and neither he nor his MPs will meddle.

But Mulcair is using the election call in Quebec as an opportunity to engage in a little campaign talk of his own.

Mulcair says the NDP is doing the best job of selling Canada in Quebec, and would address a number of long-standing irritants he says the Tories have ignored.