Parti Quebecois won’t call a snap election in 2013, Pauline Marois says

SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS, Que. – Pauline Marois says she won’t call a snap election in 2013.

The Quebec premier says she made the decision after a two-day retreat with her Parti Quebecois cabinet.

Instead, she plans to focus on implementing some of her party’s policies, including the controversial proposed charter of values bill.

For weeks there had been rumours the minority PQ would call an election this fall and make identity politics a key issue in the campaign.

With only a minority, however, Marois doesn’t entirely control the electoral timetable.

The premier also announced two provincial by-elections and pressed the head of the Liberal opposition, Philippe Couillard, to run for a seat in the Quebec legislature.