The Bloc Québécois held a campaign rally in the riding of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun on Wednesday evening. Polls show it in third place, neck and neck with the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party of Canada. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who was also present, took the opportunity to take a few digs at Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre.
Less than a month before the by-election, which will take place on September 16, more than a hundred people were present Wednesday evening at the Bloc Québécois rally to show their support for candidate Louis-Philippe Sauvé.
A historian by training, this is his very first candidacy in a federal election. He says he is particularly proud to represent “his neighbours” in the riding of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, where he has lived for 8 years. “I think my candidacy is refreshing, I come with a different perspective,” he says.
“It’s really exciting, I’m having a lot of fun campaigning,” he told The Press just before he entered the room, to the applause of the crowd chanting “One country, one country!”
“Tonight, we are writing history together!” he said.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe
Several political figures were present to show their support for the candidate – including Gilles Duceppe, who was leader of the Bloc from 1997 to 2011.
“It’s a good candidacy. He’s a long-time activist, he has experience, he knows the issues well,” he said, recalling that the Bloc Québécois had already won twice in this riding, before the redrawing of the electoral map in 2013.
Three parties neck and neck
The battle for the riding is set to be tough. LaSalle–Émard–Verdun has been a Liberal Party of Canada stronghold for the past decade – the Liberals won the riding handily in 2021, with nearly 43 per cent of the vote. But the tide could be turning this time.
Christopher Massé, an activist met in the room where the rally was taking place, is convinced. “This time, it’s the Bloc that will win!”
According to the poll aggregator 338Canada, the Bloc Québécois would obtain 24% of voting intentions in the riding; it thus finds itself neck and neck with the Liberal Party (29%), in free fall in the polls (-6% in 3 months), and the New Democratic Party (26%), which for its part shows a meteoric rise (+7% in 3 months). Voting intentions for the Bloc, however, remain more or less stable (-1% in 3 months).
“The Liberal Party is in decline, it’s obvious,” says François Plante, a retiree and volunteer for the party.
Some digs
Also present to offer his support for the candidacy of Louis-Philippe Sauvé, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon praised the work of the Bloc Québécois MPs, who, according to him, “are struggling [à Ottawa] in an often hostile environment, to defend their world.”
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon shakes hands with Bloc Québécois candidate Louis-Philippe Sauvé.
The PQ leader took the opportunity to launch a few digs at Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre.
“We are sending 82 billion [chaque année à Ottawa] for wind, and smiles, and Justin Trudeau’s colorful socks,” he mocked.
He also denounced, among other things, the federal government’s immigration policy, the increase in cases of foreign interference and government subsidies to support the oil industry.
“People are hungry for real, real people, real arguments and reflection on the future of our society,” he concluded.
Read the article “By-election in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun: a ballot with at least 62 candidates”