Charest hopeful new government good for Quebec

Premier Jean Charest is confident Quebec will play a big role in Ottawa even though the province will have little representation in the Conservative majority government.

Charest said Stephen Harper has no choice but to pay careful attention to the concerns of Quebecers, despite the fact that only six of the province's 75 MPs will be Conservatives in the new government.

"Mr. Harper is going to look ahead and he will want Quebec to be part of his decision-making process of his government. He will want the decisions of his government to be well respected in Quebec," said Charest, speaking to reporters in Quebec City on Tuesday.

Charest said he expects to have a good working relationship with the new government, particularly on their shared priority of the economy.

However, he said Harper cannot ignore Quebecers on more contentious issues, such as abolishing the long-gun registry, which a vast majority of Quebecers support.

The premier also expects to restart talks as soon as possible on a deal over the harmonized sales tax.

"Quebec is very much part of the country and, yes, he needs every part of the country to govern," said Charest.

Charest said he was encouraged that so many Quebecers decided to "reinvest themselves" in the Canadian political framework by voting in large numbers for the federalist parties.

The NDP won 58 seats in the province and the Liberals took seven.

However, Charest cautioned that people should not read too much into the defeat of the Bloc Quebecois which ended the night with four seats.

"This does not mean that the sovereignist movement has disappeared. We have to be very clear about that," said Charest.

"I recognize and respect those in Quebec for whom this is a legitimate political choice. I guess the difference is that the debate will be done in Quebec."

Charest gave his thanks to Gilles Duceppe, the long-time leader of the Bloc Québécois who stepped down Monday night after losing his own seat in the crushing Bloc defeat.

"We are indebted toward him for his service towards Quebec," said Charest.

Charest concluded his news conference by saying he was not worried about Quebec being represented by so many inexperienced MPs.

"They will have their opportunity to show their stuff like everyone else," said Charest.

Harper said Tuesday that he was disappointed that his majority government does not have a larger foothold in Quebec.

However, he said he was not discouraged.

"I would have hoped for more, but we do have significant representation there, and we will certainly be listening to what the people of Quebec say over the next four years," said Harper.

Quebec MPs will have a significant place in his cabinet, he said.