Lucien Bouchard not pleased with PQ over its apparent hostility to shale gas

MONTREAL – A former Quebec premier is not very happy with his old party, only two days into its term in office.

Lucien Bouchard has issued a statement condemning comments about shale gas made by the new Parti Quebecois government.

While an environmental review process is only barely underway, the minister responsible for the industry has said it can never be developed safely.

Bouchard, who was a popular former leader of the PQ, is now the president of the Quebec Oil and Gas Association.

He calls the comments from Martine Ouellet confusing and, in a statement, has asked six questions he says the minister raised with those remarks.

In interviews he gave after the Sept. 4 provincial election, Bouchard had already criticized some of his old party’s campaign promises and he suggested it was time to focus on priorities other than achieving independence. The PQ took office Wednesday.

The remarks about shale gas also drew criticism from another ex-leader of the PQ, Andre Boisclair, who also works for the industry.