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The Quebec Liberals have solidified their lead in the polls on the eve of Thursday's leaders debate, according to a new poll which suggests that Philippe Couillard's party has opened a five point lead over the Parti Quebecois with the April 7 election just 18 days away.

The poll, released late Wednesday afternoon, has the Liberals leading with 37 percent against 32 percent for the PQ while the Coalition Avenir Quebec is at 16 percent, Quebec Solidaire 10 percent, Option Nationale three percent and others three percent.

The results factor in the 12 percent of voters who described themselves as undecided.

The Ipsos Reid poll, the result of 810 interviews conducted on line between March 14 and 18, suggests that referendum talk has hurt the PQ, as 72 percent of Quebecers surveyed said that they believe that a vote for the Parti Quebecois is a vote for a referendum, an impression likely buttressed by star candidate Pierre Karl Peladeaus recent passionate declaration in favour of separation.

The PQ lead among francophones has plunged to just nine percent, as Pauline Marois party has 38 percent of francophone support, while 29 percent of francophones would vote for the Liberals, 18 percent for the CAQ and 12 percent for Quebec Solidaire.

Eighty percent of anglophones surveyed support the Liberals, while only six percent would vote for the Parti Quebecois and eight percent would vote for various other parties.

Liberal voters appeared more determined than others to actually cast ballots on April 7. Almost two thirds of Quebecers replied that nothing short of an emergency could stop me from getting to the voting booth and casting my vote. Liberal supporters were more likely to agree with that statement, so if those numbers are considered an accurate barometer of voter turnout, Ipsos Reid calculates that the Liberal lead rises to 40 percent versus 33 percent for the Parti Quebecois.

The results suggest growing discontent with the PQ government, as over two thirds of respondents (67 percent) feel that Quebec is going in the wrong direction while only 33 percent replied that Quebec is "headed on the right track.

The Liberals have a 48 percent to 25 percent lead over the PQ on the island of Montreal, while the PQ leads in the suburbs 39 percent to 33 percent.

The PQ also has a lead in the Quebec City area, where 30 percent of voters are supporting Marois party against 27 percent for Couillards Liberals.

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New poll gives Liberals five point lead