Provincial election in April?

Speculation over a Quebec provincial election call heated up this week.

A spokesperson for Premier Bernard Landry’s said Tuesday that Landry asked his staff to be ready for an election call as early as March 12.

If the call is in the second week of March, then the election would be held April 14.

But Landry’s spokesperson stressed that a spring election remained pure speculation.

“The premier hasn’t made up his mind yet,” the spokesperson said.

The government must call an election before its five-year mandate ends this November.

The looming election has put pressure on Makivik Corporation to complete the framework agreement for Nunavik’s new government.

Some Nunavimmiut worry a change in provincial leadership could hamper future negotiations.

As of press-time, the framework agreement had not been signed, though Makivik negotiators had said there was a chance it would be ratified two weeks ago.