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QUEBEC — Premier François Legault says he believes the time is ripe for Quebec to obtain more powers in the federation and his government is cranking up the machine to obtain them.

Saying a true partnership is a matter of mutual respect, Legault outlined a sweeping list of demands on Tuesday — taken from his nationalist election platform — that he wants federal political leaders to address in their campaigns.

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“Quebec forms a distinct nation, free to make its own choices in areas connected to its existence,” Legault said, quoting a 1990 statement by Robert Bourassa in presenting his shopping list at a formal news conference in his office.

“I am thinking here of immigration, the secularism of the state, the French language. Yes I am asking the federal parties to commit to respecting Quebec’s choices in these areas, which are fundamental for our nation.”

Legault outlines the details of his demands in a four-page letter sent to each of the leaders vying to become prime minister Oct. 21. Whoever wins the election inherits future talks with a Quebec government with a nationalist political agenda.