As the parliamentary session approaches in Ottawa, which will be marked by a new political dynamic, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet is defending his intention to conclude piecemeal agreements with Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberals in exchange for their support during confidence votes.
“I don’t want to keep [les libéraux] in power,” he replied at a press briefing on Tuesday, during his pre-sessional caucus at the luxurious Fairmont Le Château Montebello, in his constituency.
The latter assured that he was “as eager as anyone to go to elections”, but instead wanted to take advantage of his new balance of power to “make gains for Quebec”.
With the government weakened by the recent breakdown of the agreement between the Liberals and the NDP, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is promising to increase the number of confidence votes in the hope of triggering a federal election.
The Bloc leader, for his part, says he is rather ready to bargain for his support in order to advance his party’s priorities. Especially since a rushed federal election would very likely lead to the election of a majority Conservative government.
Nationally, the Conservatives hold a long lead over the other parties, with a 22-point lead.
“No one has explained to me how the Bloc Québécois’ job is to help the Conservatives replace the Liberals. I’ve already said it: we have the choice between being bitten by a viper or a tarantula,” he said.
On his X page, Pierre Poilievre attacked the Bloc Québécois, which he accuses of being “in an identity crisis”, by publishing a photo montage in which Yves-François Blanchet appears holding two sweaters: one bearing the logo of his party, and the other, that of the Liberal Party.
A list of requirements
In exchange for his support, Mr. Blanchet indicates that he will demand, as a priority, that the government grant the royal recommendation to their bill which proposes to raise the pension of seniors aged 65 to 74 to the same level as that paid to those aged 75 and over.
“You want to know what our demands will be when we return? It’s clearly the first one,” he confirmed.
Quebec’s powers in matters of immigration, supply management and medical assistance in dying will also be among the subjects on which the Bloc hopes to make gains with the government.
The Bloc also hopes to eliminate the exception in the Criminal Code that authorizes hateful or anti-Semitic speech when it is based on religion.
“For Quebecers, it is deeply unacceptable that people can come and spread hatred against women, against sexual minorities or against the people of Israel. It is not acceptable, so that too risks being part of [de nos demandes] “, said Mr. Blanchet.
With less than a week to go before the start of the parliamentary session, the leader of the Bloc Québécois indicates that his party will evaluate each vote on a case-by-case basis, based on the interests of Quebec.
“We are here to fiercely promote the interests of Quebec and that is what we will do,” he proclaimed.
“Now we know that sooner or later we will have to vote against [une proposition]and that could result in the fall of the government. So be it, but that will not be the determining factor in our choice,” he explained.
Federal elected officials will return to Parliament on Monday, September 16, also the day of two by-elections in Quebec and Manitoba.
In Montreal, the byelection in Lasalle-Émard-Verdun is being seen by many as a test of leadership for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Earlier this summer, the Liberals lost a seat in another byelection, in Toronto–St. Paul’s, which is considered a Liberal stronghold.