The Parti Quebecois have basically been handed the next provincial election if they want it. But much like the BC NDP, all indications are their answer is “thanks, but no thanks“.

The latest problem for them is the defection of three high profile MNAs. And why are they defecting you ask? Over contentious issues surrounding sovereignty, reasonable accommodation, or Quebec’s massive deficit?

Nope.

Over a private members bill about a hockey arena:

3 PQ members leave party
Beaudoin, Curzi, Lapointe will sit as independant MNAs

Three influential Parti Québécois members of the national assembly are leaving Quebec’s sovereigntist party, largely because of a controversial bill to protect the provincial capital and its management deal on the city’s new hockey arena.

Louise Beaudoin, the member for Montreal’s Rosemont riding, Pierre Curzi, who represents Borduas, and Lisette Lapointe, the member for Crémazie and the wife of former PQ leader Jacques Parizeau, announced Monday morning that they will sit as independents committed to sovereignty.

Their decision was triggered by a private member’s bill sponsored by PQ member Agnès Maltais to protect the City of Quebec after the multimillion-dollar deal it made with media giant Quebecor to operate the future arena.