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Legault has ruled out a referendum, which was key to the enthusiasm. PR fans are sick of losing referendums. Many have decided they don’t just want to contest them anymore, but that there’s something wrong with referendums per se that explains why they keep losing them. Not infrequently in PR circles you will hear the ongoing Brexit mess cited as an argument against asking Canadians how they would prefer to vote; not infrequently you will hear PR referendums described as “undemocratic.”

Signals coming out of Quebec City more recently suggest further disappointment may be on the way. A CAQ caucus meeting last week reportedly featured some pointed concerns. No doubt some were about the proposed system — for example the reliance on party lists and the much larger ridings. No doubt some were practical: The director-general of Elections Quebec has said a new system would need to be approved in October to be in effect by 2022; the National Assembly having decamped for the summer, this leaves precious little time for consultations and increases the chance of backlash.

But reports suggest somewhat less wholesome matters were discussed as well. After all, Legault’s party won 59 per cent of the seats in the National Assembly and 37 per cent of the popular vote. In closing that gap, PR would bust the CAQ down to a minority government and put quite a few people in that meeting out of work. Québec solidaire leader Manon Massé has been firm that 2022 must be Quebec’s last FPTP election, but the PQ, fittingly enough, has suggested it could get behind a referendum. Legault would have the Liberals’ support on that front.