(Ottawa) The Bloc Québécois does not adequately defend the interests of Quebec by helping to keep the Trudeau government in power – a centralizing government which multiplies programs in areas of provincial jurisdiction, says the leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre.
The day after the rejection of the motion of censure against the Liberal government that he presented to the House of Commons, Mr. Poilievre took a shot at the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, on Friday.
In an interview given to The PressMr. Poilievre called the Bloc leader “Justin Trudeau’s valet” in the House of Commons – an accusation that did not impress Mr. Blanchet.
The Conservative leader’s motion of censure, which could have provoked a federal election if the Bloc Québécois and the NDP had supported it, aimed to withdraw the confidence of the House in the Trudeau government because of its refusal to abolish the tax on carbon, which must increase from $65 per tonne to $80 per tonne on 1er april. This motion was defeated by a vote of 204 to 116.
PHOTO BLAIR GABLE, REUTERS ARCHIVES
The leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet
“Yves-François Blanchet is Justin Trudeau’s valet. He voted to keep in power the most centralizing, expansionist and inflationary government in the country’s history. He voted to keep the Trudeau government and its Liberal policies of immigration, inflation, debt and crime in power,” said Mr. Poilievre on the phone.
The Conservative leader found it inconceivable that the Bloc Québécois would decide to vote against the motion of censure at a time when the Trudeau government continues to implement “centralizing” programs that Quebec opposes because they encroach on its areas of jurisdiction. .
Mr. Poilievre alluded to the national dental care program and the new drug insurance program that the Trudeau government intends to implement to meet the NDP’s conditions for supporting it in the Commons under an agreement concluded ago two years. In principle, the next federal election must take place in October 2025, if this agreement holds.
“Trap sewn with white thread”
Joined by The Press, Mr. Blanchet indicated that he voted against this “dishonest” motion because it suggested that the carbon tax applies to Quebec when that is not the case. Quebec has its own regime that imposes a price on pollution.
“It was a trap sewn with white thread. This tax does not apply to Quebec,” Mr. Blanchet said in an interview.
If he wants to present a real motion of censure that concerns issues like immigration or insufficient health transfers for Quebec, I am ready to meet him at any time.
Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois
Despite the rejection of the motion of censure, Mr. Poilievre asked his troops to be on alert. He noted that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is due to present her next budget on April 16 and that there will therefore be another vote of confidence shortly in the House of Commons.
“The next meeting is Justin Trudeau’s inflationary and expensive budget. We will oppose any increase in debt and taxes. We will put pressure on all the other parties to vote against it. So that could cause an election. One day or another, there will be an election that will focus on taxes. Justin Trudeau’s record is catastrophic,” insisted Mr. Poilievre.