Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet speaks during the federal election English-language Leaders debate in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada on September 9, 2021. (Photo by Justin Tang / POOL / AFP)
By Noé Chartier
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says his party isn’t looking for an immediate election that he says would work to the Conservatives’ advantage.
He made the comments after the NDP revoked its agreement with the minority Liberal government to keep it in power until 2025, and as the Liberals need the support of at least one other party on key votes to remain in power.
Blanchet told LCN news channel on Sept. 5 he’s not keen on helping to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pointing to Poilievre’s lower popularity in Quebec than in the rest of Canada.
“I don’t think Quebecers are so eager to have an election since they know Conservatives are ahead in the rest of Canada, and Quebecers don’t want the Conservatives,” he said.
Blanchet also criticized Poilievre for his way of asking the Bloc for help to topple Trudeau, saying he’s “throwing insults at us.” Poilievre’s strategy has been to take shots at the NDP when speaking in English and to criticize the Bloc when speaking in French.
Blanchet said his party is in a position of strength in Québec compared to the Liberals and Conservatives, and he seeks to make the most of it.
The latest Leger poll conducted in late August puts the Bloc ahead with 29 percent of voting intentions in Quebec. The Liberals come second with 27 percent and the Tories third with 23 percent. An Abacus poll from early August put the Conservatives (31 percent) slightly ahead of the Bloc (30 percent) in Québec.
“My work is not to keep the Trudeau government alive, I don’t have more sympathy for the Trudeau government than Quebecers,” said Blanchet, before adding “the question is now … what gains can I make.”
He cited the potential “gains” as wanting to help seniors, to give additional immigration powers to Quebec, to repeal the “odious” decree on caribou, to stop subsidies to the oil industry, and to stop Ottawa’s involvement in Quebec with regards to language and secularism laws.
The Bloc leader’s comments came one day after NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced he was pulling out of the supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals.
The deal struck in March 2022 guaranteed the NDP would support the minority Liberals on confidence votes in exchange for implementing its priorities with legislation and policy. Most of the items on the agreement have been actioned, from dental care to anti-scab legislation.
Singh said on Sept. 5 an election was now “more likely” but he wouldn’t commit to opposing the government.
“We’re going to make a decision based on whatever votes come in front of us about how we vote on those votes,” said Singh.
Blanchet also did not rule out voting no confidence to topple the government but said he wouldn’t vote on a Conservative motion simply seeking such an outcome.
He also said that the Bloc supports the carbon tax and wouldn’t vote in favour of a confidence motion around that theme. Poilievre tabled such a motion in March to oppose the April 1 carbon tax hike and it was rejected by all other parties.
The House of Commons will resume sitting on Sept. 16 under the new dynamics. Liberals will need support from the NDP or the Bloc in confidence votes to keep governing.
Two byelections will also be held on Sept. 16 in Winnipeg and Montreal. An NDP stronghold is in play in Winnipeg and a Liberal one in Montreal.