Western Quebec voters have mixed opinions on the prospect of a Parti Quebecois government after Tuesday's vote.

Out of seven local ridings, all but Labelle (the PQ’s Sylvain Pagé) voted Liberal in 2008, but most polls show that party in a fight for second with the Coalition Avenir Quebec.

Voters asked by CTV Ottawa were split between hope for change and the fear of a sovereigntist party in power.

“I’m in for a change,” said PQ supporter Yves Dube. “Nine years of the same party, (they’re) accused of corruption.”

“It really disturbs me that people want to separate this country and that we’re talking about it again,” said Brigitte Deblois.

“I’m going to vote CAQ because I don’t want separation,” said new Quebecer Luba Danilenko. “I want Quebec to stay in Canada, don’t want a referendum.”

Many in the local ridings rely on the federal government for jobs and industry (especially in Gatineau) so they’ve been historically less likely to vote for separation.

Both the Liberals and CAQ say a PQ government will mean a third referendum on separation, while the Parti Quebecois says voting for them is simply a vote for a new government.

The Parti Quebecois’ Hull candidate Gilles Aube said he’s focusing his message on change in areas such as health care.

“We’re missing doctors, nurses, (voters are) tired of this situation,” he said.

“I am a family doctor myself, have been working here for 23 years, I have a lot of knowledge to solve this specific problem.”

Liberal incumbent Maryse Gaudreault said Hull remains a strong source of support for her party.

“I still believe in a Liberal government,” she said. “We’ll see tomorrow night.”

Gaudreault’s former staffer Etienne Boulrice is now running against her with the new Coalition Avenir Quebec party.

“For the first time, you have a real alternative for Liberals – it’s the Coalition,” he said.

Coverage of the Quebec election will air on CTV News Channel Tuesday starting at 8 p.m., with local ridings covered on ctvottawa.ca and on the CTV News at 11:30.

With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Joanne Schnurr