2 ADQ members defect to Charest's Liberals

Two Action Démocratique du Québec members of the provincial legislature crossed the floor to the Liberals on Thursday, saying they can no longer work with ADQ Leader Mario Dumont.

André Riedl, who represents the riding of Iberville, and Champlain member Pierre-Michel Auger said they felt betrayed by Dumont and a party that had lost its way.

Said Riedl: "What I saw or felt was a sort of stagnation. I expected to be part of the ADQ, and part of the project, but in the final analysis I don't see any project."

Although the pair were welcomed by Premier Jean Charest, Dumont wasted no time firing back, saying they were not among his strongest legislature members. He also urged them to quit and run again on the Liberal ticket in byelections.

The defections reduce the number of ADQ seats to 39, but it still has more than the Parti Québécois and will remain as the Official Opposition.

With the two new additions, Charest's Liberals have 50 of the 125 seats in the Quebec assembly, but it does not change their minority position.

The defections further fuel speculation that Charest is considering calling a snap fall election to try to increase the number of Liberal seats.

The floor crossing comes just a day after longtime Liberal member Russell Copeman announced he was resigning from politics to take a job at Concordia University.