Data from the latest Léger/The Journal have something to rejoice the Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet. At 35% of voting intentions in Quebec – a gain of six points – the Bloc Québécois is well ahead of its opponents.
Among French speakers, he even prances at 45% support. In short, if the trend continues, the Bloc could regain, as I already wrote a few weeks ago, the prized status of official opposition as it did in 1993.
So what happened? First, Mr. Blanchet’s choice to “negotiate” his support for the minority Liberal government, by defending seniors and farmers, seems to please Quebec.
Second, faced with worn-out liberals and forbidding conservatives, the Bloc once again becomes the alternative for nearly half of French-speaking voters.
Wait for 3e rang
Third, the calm tone of the Bloc leader in a chaotic parliament where, courtesy of the Conservative leader, insults are flying, also seems to please.
Incapable of breaking through the Quebec “exception”, Pierre Poilievre’s conservatives, even if they maintain a dazzling lead in the rest of the country, are hanging around here in 3e rang.
The extreme abrasiveness of the Poilievre “style” and its refusal to make a distinct political offer to Quebecers simply does not pass muster.
The poll also confirms that among the French-speaking electorate, the repeated attacks by François Legault and Pierre Poilievre against the Bloc have come to nothing.
Buy indulgences
In this, Mr. Legault may have bought indulgences from Mr. Poilievre.
At the same time, however, he bought himself a stormy relationship with the Bloc which, very probably, could emerge from the next election with the largest Quebec delegation.
If this turns out to be true, Prime Minister Legault will have to live with his choice of having also favored the most right-wing party leader of the modern era in Canada.
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