Canadian Armed Forces Station in Afghanistan

Calling the Quebec election result significant, former prime minister Paul Martin says it shows Quebecers don't want "never-ending referendums."

"This is the first time in almost two generations that neither the government in office, nor Official Opposition is a separatist party," said Martin, who spoke to CBC Newsworld a day after Jean Charest's Liberals eked out a minority victory in the provincial election.

Former prime minister Paul Martin says the election of two parties that want to stay within Canada speaks 'to the mood in Quebec.'

(CBC)

"You have … two parties that essentially want to stay in Canada and want to make Canada work and have another agenda, other than an immediate referendum.

"I think that does speak to the mood in Quebec," said Martin, who acknowledged federal Liberals are disappointed Charest didn't form a majority.

Charest's Liberals won 48 seats in Monday's vote, down from the 72 they held before the election call. Mario Dumont and the conservative Action Démocratique du Québec will form the Official Opposition with 41 seats, while the Parti Québécois dropped to 36 seats.

It's the first minority government the province has seen in 130 years, raising speculation about whether party leaders can work together.