We’re heading into the six-week period when Quebec politics typically goes dark. Quebecers would rather sit by the lake and swat at black flies than hear the buzz of political squabbling.

With an election in early October, however, the parties and candidates will be busy shoring up their organizations to prepare for when the campaign ramps up by late-August and Quebecers start tuning in again. The latest Léger poll shows the result is wide open, with more than half of respondents saying their vote is not yet definitive.

To that end, two of the main parties over the past 10 days strategically decided to unveil, before the break, self-defining documents dealing with the biggest potential obstacles in their respective paths to victory. Knowing they would be open to criticism, getting them out there now was deemed important as opposed to becoming targets at the height of the campaign, when timing and momentum are critical.

To win, the Liberals must increase support among francophones. So, leader Charles Milliard unveiled the party’s long-awaited plan on the French language. Walking that fine line between protecting French and........

© Montreal Gazette