LANDRY BREAKS SILENCE ON BOISCLAIR'S COKE USE

QUEBEC -- The political career of Andre Boisclair, the front-runner in the
Parti Quebecois leadership race, could have come to an abrupt end had
former leader Bernard Landry known he had taken cocaine.

"It would have been an extremely serious matter," Mr. Landry told reporters
as he prepared to deliver a speech to Laval University students yesterday.
"I would have asked for an investigation. I would have had to be informed
of the facts and I would have made a decision based on the facts."

It was the first time the former leader, who resigned this past June, has
spoken about Mr. Boisclair's cocaine use.

His comments come just as the party prepares for an all-candidates debate
tonight on sovereignty.

This past month, Mr. Boisclair, 39, admitted having taken cocaine in 1997
when he was a minister in the PQ government led by premier Lucien Bouchard.

"Nothing like that happened when I was premier," Mr. Landry said. "It was a
rumour. What took place happened under Lucien Bouchard."

Mr. Bouchard was premier from 1996 to 2001 and was replaced by Mr. Landry,
who held the position until the PQ's defeat in 2003.

Mr. Landry said that after he became premier, he would have acted promptly
had he known a minister was using cocaine.

"I would have asked for an investigation on the circumstances, the ways and
means and number of times of this and that," Mr. Landry said.

"As premier I would have taken all the necessary measures. . . . but all
that is theoretical."

Mr. Landry has refused to say publicly which of the nine candidates he
supports. Many among his former staff back Mr. Boisclair, and it was widely
believed that Mr. Landry also did.

Mr. Landry said the news media were right to report Mr. Boisclair's cocaine
use and that he will not attempt to direct PQ members in their choice of a
new leader.

Mr. Landry's comments appear to signal a desire to distance himself from
Mr. Boisclair just as rumours about the candidate's lifestyle begin to
undermine his leadership credentials.

The former leader still appeared bitter toward Pauline Marois, the other
leading contender in the race, who has been accused of mounting the charge
against Mr. Landry's leadership.

He said Ms. Marois was wrong to say she is having problems attracting
support due to her gender. "Quebec is an advanced society when it comes to
dealing with the equality between men and women. So I don't think it should
be taken into account," he said.

Mr. Landry said there were probably other reasons Ms. Marois's campaign is
in difficulty.

"You don't judge someone based on his or her sex or sexual orientation or
religion but through factors that are profoundly related to the abilities
of a person," Mr. Landry said.