QUEBEC — NDP Leader Jack Layton says the Action democratique du Quebec's breakthrough in last week's election election is a sign the time is right for his own party to make inroads in the province.

Layton told about 100 NDP supporters on Saturday that the rise of the ADQ was spurred by a rejection of the province's two "old'' parties.

"They wanted to see something new,'' he said of Quebec voters.

Layton said the Quebec Liberals and Parti Quebecois are becoming increasingly disconnected from Quebecers.

He said the ADQ under leader Mario Dumont surged into official Opposition status because Quebec's middle-class voters have difficulty making ends meet despite economic prosperity in the province.

The populist, right-wing ADQ jumped from five to 41 seats in last Monday's election.

The incumbent Liberals won 48 of the 125 seats in the national assembly, while the PQ earned 36.

Layton expects his party will make a Quebec breakthrough of its own in the next federal election.

"We're going to have the kind of team that's really going to excite the people of Quebec with the possibility of a voice that will speak for the average middle-class family that's really feeling squeezed these days,'' the NDP leader said, naming former provincial environment minister Thomas Mulcair and Cree leader Romeo Saganash as possible star candidates.

"I think we're in the strongest position we've ever been to give Quebecers a really positive choice.''