For political reasons he needs to make a short-term connection to some part of the Quebec provincial political structure. The Parti Qu b cois has nothing in common with any part of the Canadian Alliance, whether it is led by Day, Manning or Waldo the Wonder Dog. There are indications that Day has caught the attention of a few provincial Liberals disaffected with Jean Charest. But his best hope for any kind of Quebec showing rests with his open courtship of the Action D mocratique du Qu bec. Manning is certain that must be a right of all Quebecers.
Day is equivocal.
In general terms, western Canadians are in no mood to provide any departure gifts for Quebec. But Day has concluded he can hold the west even while making some concessions to Quebec. This, of course, is the quest that the Canadian Alliance has embarked upon. From the time Day hosted the first United Alternative conference in Alberta the goal has been to convince Canadians east of the Manitoba border that the goals of populism and western inclusion are worthwhile to the nation as a whole. It is a theme Manning preached for the entire 13 years he led the Reform Party and continues to espouse as a candidate for the leadership of the Canadian Alliance.