It's been a tough few weeks for Premier Jean Charest in the lead-up to the provincial budget.

He won his majority government on Dec. 8, with the support of just 25 per cent of eligible voters.

And now, he marks his first 100 days in office this week with his government's popularity rating already down to 38 per cent, according to a recent Leger Marketing survey.

There have been a number of factors at play: Chief among them, the record losses at the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, followed by the controversial appointment of Michael Sabia as the new president and CEO.

Now there are rumours and speculation among the chattering classes. Columnist Chantal Hebert of the Toronto Star wondered this week if Charest and his finance minister, Monique Jerome Forget, will actually stay until the end of the Liberal mandate.

All eyes will be on the finance minister as she stands in the national assembly at 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon as she tables Quebec's first deficit budget in ten years.

The government is promising help for the province's businesses and those worst hit by the economic downturn.

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