Pubdate: Sat, 17 Sep 2005
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
ded-4759-86e6-ca4d372111fc
Copyright: 2005 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/274
Author: Philip Authier

BOISCLAIR LOSES COOL OVER RUMOURS OF WILD PAST

PQ front-runner walks out on reporters; Admits to 'excesses,' but doesn't
elaborate

Parti Quebecois leadership front-runner Andre Boisclair's campaign stumbled
yesterday as he tried to fend off questions about youthful cocaine and
alcohol abuse.

A shaken Boisclair abruptly ended a news conference when reporters continued
to grill him about the allegations and rumours he was once dressed down by
former PQ leader Lucien Bouchard for the wild lifestyle he was leading while
an MNA in his 20s.

Now 39, Boisclair denied any such meeting ever took place, but conceded he
had his youthful escapades and made mistakes. Today, he said, they are a
thing of the past, he is in full control of his faculties and trusts the
judgment Quebecers will make of him.

"I have been through my youth. I have been through my 20s. I had a life like
all Quebecers," Boisclair said.

"I did not pop out of some premier-producing machine. I had fantastic
moments in my life, some that were tougher. There are things that I did,
certain of which I regret, like the majority of people who are listening to
us.

"I am someone who had pleasure in his life. I occasionally committed some
excesses, but when you are looking at things which happened many years ago,
let's be careful with that. I am closing in on 40, I am in full control of
my faculties."

Boisclair said he has been quite open with his private life in this
campaign, fielding questions on his homosexuality, for example, but said he
finds the continued prying and innuendos very difficult.

"I am diving into this race with my skills, my talents, my energy," he said.

"I find it unfortunate that personal attacks that certain people would like
to make and have made (have surfaced), especially since many of the
allegations which have been made are false, false.

"I was never summoned by Lucien Bouchard. There was never a discussion
between me and Mr. Bouchard. When I see this kind of personal attack and the
attention people want to give to it, I say, be careful. Can we please go to
the fundamental questions, to the competencies of people, to debating the
ideas they are advancing?"

At no time did Boisclair say what his excesses were, and he ended the news
conference when a reporter asked if had ever used cocaine.

He said he had answered enough questions and turned and left.

Yesterday's incident took place at PQ party headquarters following a news
conference officials had called to confirm nine candidates, including
Boisclair, are in the running for Bernard Landry's old job.

Over the last few weeks, some media and columnists have commented on
Boisclair's taste for the nightlife in his youth. Boisclair was first
elected to the National Assembly for the riding of Gouin in 1989 at age 23.
He has held four cabinet posts in eight years, including the environment and
municipal affairs portfolios.

One of the first questions he was asked when he announced his candidacy was
about his homosexuality. Boisclair handled it deftly, saying he was lucky to
have been born in an open and tolerant society like Quebec. The queries
quickly stopped.

Polls have since shown that Quebecers consider his sexual preference a
non-issue, but it is the first time Boisclair was asked directly about other
rumours.

Yesterday, asked if he thinks the stories will affect his chances in the
race, Boisclair responded: "It is the members of the party who will decide.
I have confidence in their good judgement."

Boisclair is planning to hold his first major campaign rally tomorrow at the
Spectrum on Ste. Catherine St.

Officials yesterday confirmed that in addition to Boisclair, eight other
candidates have qualified to run: Pauline Marois, Richard Legendre, Louis
Bernard, Gilbert Paquette, Jean-Claude St. Andre, Jean Ouimet, Pierre Dubuc
and Ghislain Lebel.

The leadership race has entered the next stage. There will be seven debates
held on seven pre-determined platforms, including health and education. The
first is Wednesday in Sherbrooke and it will focus on solidarity and public
finances.

About 100,000 Pequistes get to vote for the new leader, who will be crowned
Nov. 15 in Quebec City. 
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