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A spokeswoman for the premier said it would be “completely irresponsible” for opposition parties to risk triggering an election less than two months after the last one.

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In any case, the showdown illustrated the historic challenge the PQ faces in imposing its agenda with a minority government — something the pro-independence party has never had to do. It held solid majorities the two previous times it came to office.

The new government even appeared to go out of its way to downplay the polarizing issues of independence, language and identity.

Those emotionally charged issues that occupied centre stage in the recent election were shoved toward the background in Marois’ speech.

Her one-hour address did not include a single reference to an independence referendum or to the PQ’s campaign promise to let citizens force plebiscites with petitions, as happens in numerous U.S. states.

In fact, Marois included more references to her goal of creating a “Charter of Wood” — a plan to promote the use of Quebec forestry products in building projects — than to the idea of holding a vote to make Quebec a country.

Other hot-button identity issues received similarly scant prominence.

Marois promised public consultations before proceeding with two other controversial promises: the “Charter of Secularism” that would limit religious headwear in public institutions, and the proposed Quebec citizenship that would make future immigrants pass a French test to run for public office.