Although his party continues to struggle in the polls, Jean-François Simard, minister for the Capitale-Nationale region, believes that the “prophets of doom” who predicted the demise of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) were wrong. Quebecers are paying more attention to the CAQ than ever before,” the outspoken minister asserted Friday during a press briefing in Lac-Beauport, in the Quebec City region. “When I arrived in April, there were very few—if any—columnists who thought there would be a three-way race. And now, try to find a columnist who isn’t saying there will be a three-way race. Nathalie St-Pierre, former communications director for Minister Éric Caire, will run in Jean-Lesage.