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QUEBEC — Coalition Avenir Québec cabinet ministers, MNAs and political staff will not be allowed to take sides in the soon-to-be-called federal election campaign, Premier François Legault said Wednesday.

“For me, it’s important that regardless of the government or the party that is chosen in Ottawa, that we work with this party,” Legault told reporters. “So to facilitate this work, I think it is preferable that they not get involved.

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“I specifically asked our MNAs and employees to not participate in the federal campaign.”

Legault’s announcement — made during a news conference to explain his cabinet shuffle — comes a day after the Liberal official opposition leader, Pierre Arcand, said his MNAs are free to support or work for whomever they choose in the lead-up to the Oct. 21 election.

The one exception would be working for the pro-independence Bloc Québécois, Arcand said.

Where Legault and Arcand agree is on the need for federal political leaders to spell out their positions on issues of interest to Quebecers.