(Quebec) The leader of the Bloc Québécois Yves-François Blanchet took advantage of the general council of his party in Quebec to shoot several arrows at the Prime Minister of Quebec François Legault – without naming him – while the latter has just suffered a new setback on the part of Ottawa in terms of immigration and that the government announced a deficit of 11 billion in its last budget.
“My job is to say that this deficit is abysmal, but above all it is federal, because the person responsible is federal […]. It’s 11 billion, because we’re not saying that Ottawa owes seven billion (for health transfers) to Quebec, stand up! Explain to me why it takes a pro-independence party in Ottawa and its brother in Quebec to tell the government: “you have a hole of seven billion, because you are not demanding and you are not saying it”,” launched the Bloc leader in front of some 250 activists gathered at Laval University.
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“This is what happens when you commit to being a federalist. When we promise not to hold a referendum on sovereignty, we get a pat on the back of the head. We are told no and we will always be told no,” added Yves-François Blanchet.
The Prime Minister of Quebec said Thursday that he would ask his federal counterpart, Justin Trudeau, for full powers over immigration. The next day, the Canadian Prime Minister refused Mr. Legault’s request.
“Having all the powers in immigration is only the beginning, because what we want is all the powers, period. Without a balance of power, we are told no,” added Yves-François Blanchet.
“We, here, in this room, when we are told no to what is rightfully ours, we stand up and we fight,” he added.
“The strategy didn’t work”
A few weeks ago, François Legault questioned the usefulness of the Bloc. “What is the purpose of the Bloc Québécois in Ottawa? It’s used for ? It’s used for ? », Launched the Prime Minister during question period at the Salon bleu.
Despite the words of the CAQ leader, Yves-François Blanchet assured that there is “no acrimony” between the two men.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Yves-François Blanchet
“It is to make the cold and rational observation to the effect that the strategy has not worked, neither in terms of health transfer, nor in terms of recovery of money in immigration, nor in terms of thresholds of “immigration,” said the Bloc leader at a press briefing after his speech.
Activists met by The Canadian Press agreed with their leader. “I think it shows that François Legault’s project isn’t going anywhere. The only way to have a counterweight to the federal government is the independence project,” said Ismaël Lamoureux.
“François Legault keeps repeating that it is a coalition with supposedly as many PQ members as liberals. I think it is the liberals within the CAQ who have the most weight compared to the PQ. So when we come to defend ideas against the federal government and we are basically liberal, well we crash,” argued Daniel Rochon.
“I think that usually we try to keep a little embarrassment to let Quebec do what it has to do, but when we are attacked sometimes we have to respond. So I think it was fair play and it was done in the right place. The points were not made in full parliament, for example,” said Simon Grenier, who is campaigning in Montarville.
“When you want to conquer a country, you start with its capital”
The Bloc clearly wants to be ready for a possible federal election – which is possible at any time due to the minority Liberal government in Ottawa – and Quebec City will likely be an important battleground. Friday evening, the Bloc leader announced his first candidate for the next election. This is Simon Bérubé who will represent the party in the Quebec riding.
“Why are we still in Quebec, except for the inauguration of Simon Bérubé? When you want to conquer a country, you start with its capital […] It’s also because we feel good there and it’s not for a Nordiques match and even less a Kings match,” said Yves-François Blanchet, throwing another jab at the CAQ Prime Minister who was welcomed by laughter in the audience.
The Legault government was mired in controversy after the announcement last November of a subsidy of 5 to 7 million for two preparatory games for the Los Angeles Kings at the Videotron Center in Quebec.
“Irresistible movement towards independence”
The leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, was also scheduled to speak at the Bloc’s general council, but he canceled his presence Friday evening.
Despite the absence of their leader, PQ deputies Joël Arseneau and Pascal Paradis were on site. Their presence was warmly underlined by loud applause. The new MP for Jean-Talon also made a speech to galvanize the Bloc activists gathered at Laval University.
“There is an irresistible movement towards the independence of Quebec and this irresistible movement is very strong in the National Capital of Quebec,” Pascal Paradis told an already won over crowd.
While Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives are prance in the polls, the Bloc Québécois is still first in Quebec, according to the poll aggregator 338Canada. In addition to the riding of Quebec, the Bloc leader listed several ridings that are in his sights such as Châteauguay—Lacolle, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Brome – Missisquoi, Hochelaga and even Chicoutimi – Le Fjord.