(Montebello) The Bloc Québécois’ main battle horse when Parliament returns will be to increase pensions for seniors aged 65 to 74, to the same level as those paid to those aged 75 and over, to the point of making it a bargaining chip for support allowing the Liberals to stay in power during a confidence vote.
“You want to know what our demands will be when we return? It’s clearly the first,” declared Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet on Tuesday, surrounded by his MNAs at the end of their two-day pre-session caucus in Montebello, in Outaouais.
The Bloc members actually want the government to have their Bill C-319 given a royal recommendation. This is required for any bill that has budgetary implications and that comes from a private member, as is the case here. Without it, the rules of the House provide that the Speaker will terminate proceedings and rule it out of order.
Asked about the impression of wanting to keep the Liberals in power, he explained that he refuses to “give up […] tens or hundreds of thousands of retirees whose purchasing power he could “force” to improve.
Mr. Blanchet noted that the Bloc Québécois is enjoying a comfortable lead in voting intentions and that he is eager to do battle with his opponents in the election campaign. However, working to provoke an election would not be “responsible behaviour,” he said.
The Bloc members actually want to take advantage of their renewed balance of power thanks to the recent tearing up of the agreement that allowed the Liberals to stay in power for more than two years with the support of the New Democrats.
“We have an extraordinary handful,” said Mr. Blanchet. “It’s a minority government that has just become a minority government again.”
Mr. Blanchet had a good laugh when the parliamentary press pointed out the decor of the press conference, his podium being set up in front of a wedding arch and a few steps from a marquee. What does this inspire in him politically?
“I will not take the risk of venturing into more than momentary votes that could turn out on the Liberal side, as well as that could turn out on the Conservative side, on the condition that it is good for Quebec,” he replied.
Members of parliament from all political parties recognised in the Commons are meeting this week in pre-sessional caucuses to prepare for the parliamentary session to resume next Monday.