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As the federal Conservative Party continues to trail Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals substantially in the polls, the Conservative Party of Quebec made an historic breakthrough in Monday’s provincial election, sending members to the National Assembly for the first time in 90 years.

JAY GOLDBERG: Conservatives must look to Quebec election for inspiration Back to video

The Quebec Conservatives, under the leadership of Éric Duhaime, will have official party status and will become the third-largest party in the legislature. In fact, 19 Conservative MNAs will be going to Quebec City.

While the Parti Québécois will form the government, it will form a minority government, offering the Conservatives a chance for tremendous influence, now holding the balance of power.

Over the course of the campaign, it was Duhaime’s Conservatives who gained the most in the polls, while the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) saw its support plummet.

For years, the CAQ had sold itself as a right-of-centre alternative for Quebec voters. But under the leadership of two consecutive........

© Edmonton Sun