Quebec's provincial election is less than one week away, which many Canadians may have forgotten given the crisis on Parliament Hill.

It seems many in Gatineau and the Pontiac have also lost interest, given the region's Liberal bent in provincial elections.

Some political experts believe the turmoil in Ottawa will benefit Liberal Premier Jean Charest in Monday's vote. The incumbent enjoys a significant lead in the polls, and observers say there's a slim chance his rivals from the Parti Qu�b�cois and the Action d�mocratique du Qu�bec will catch up.

"So far he's ahead by 12 points and that's a significant lead," said Luc Juillet, a University of Ottawa political science professor.

"They need to grab people's attention, and it's very difficult in this current situation to do that and compete with events in federal politics. Time is running out."

Louka Jacques, a host for TVA Gatineau, said: "People aren't really interested because what's happening on the Hill right now is so historic that people are focusing what's happening in Ottawa, not in Quebec."

Voter apathy can also be blamed on political fatigue, with many in West Quebec telling CTV Ottawa they are simply tired of elections after the October federal campaign and the riveting U.S. presidential race.

"The Obama election was so prominent that people feel, even they did not vote, they almost felt as though they were part of it," Juillet said.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Vanessa Lee