Facts about CAQ’s Francois Legault in his first campaign as a party leader

MONTREAL – Quebecers will vote in a provincial election on Sept. 4. Francois Legault will be leading the Coalition avenir Quebec (Coalition for Quebec’s Future) in the party’s first provincewide election. Here is a sketch of Legault:

Born: May 26, 1957, in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s in business administration, both from l’Ecole des hautes etudes commerciales (HEC).

Professional career: Auditor with Ernst & Young from 1978 to 1984; co-founded Air Transat in 1986.

Political career: Elected to legislature in 1998 as member of Parti Quebecois; minister of commerce and industry in 1998; minister of education from 1998 to 2002; minister of health in 2002 and 2003; finance critic from 2003 to 2009; co-founded Coalition avenir Quebec in 2011.

Personal: Married with two children.

Quote: ”I can’t be any clearer. Sovereignty is no longer on the table. The Coalition avenir Quebec will never promote Quebec sovereignty. Is that clear enough?” — Legault dismissing a suggestion his party favours Quebec independence.