Yves-François Blanchet believes that the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC) will finish its mandate earlier than expected, despite the Bloc Québécois’ refusal to give its approval to the Conservatives’ motion of censure on Wednesday, which could have triggered a general election this fall.
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• Also read: “The Bloc votes for the Liberals instead of voting for Quebecers,” according to Pierre Poilievre
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“I have no illusions, I don’t necessarily think that this government will make it to Christmas, its days are numbered, but if we are able, with the balance of power, to make a gain before then, the Quebec government should congratulate us for going after something good for Quebec,” he said in an interview on the show. The Balance Sheet.
According to the Bloc leader, leaving Mr. Trudeau in power could allow him to make gains across the province, he suggests.
Let us recall that his party won the by-election on Monday in the riding of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, in Montreal, which is normally a Liberal stronghold.
“Everyone should be patient,” added the Bloc leader.
Archive photo, AFP
He is referring to Mr. Poilievre, but also to Quebec Premier François Legault, who invited him to reverse his decision to bring down the Trudeau government in Ottawa.
Mr. Legault’s statement was irrational, according to Mr. Blanchet, leader of the Bloc.
“Do I want to bring him down? It’s quite possible. I’m eager to go to the elections, but with the balance of power, my job is not to serve the Conservatives, it’s not to serve the Liberals, it’s not to serve the Coalition Avenir Québec [CAQ]is to serve Quebecers,” he declares.
The politician explains that the Bloc’s position on immigration is “very close” to that of Quebec. Like the CAQ, it wants to restrict immigration and distribute asylum seekers.
“We know nothing”
Yves-François Blanchet also notes that the Conservatives’ motion of non-censorship lacks content.
“First of all, the motion was not about immigration at all, we know absolutely nothing, there is no program, no platform,” he denounces.
He argues that the Conservatives’ position on immigration is not clear.
“It’s as if Quebec were saying: ‘I’m giving you a blank check, I hope you’re going to be better than the other one,'” he illustrates.
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Mr. Blanchet does not consider Justin Trudeau to be the best choice, but that he is the one in power and who has an electoral platform, unlike Pierre Poilievre.
“He’s the one I can force to do something good for Quebec, even if he doesn’t feel like it,” he says.
After learning of the Bloc’s refusal on Wednesday, Pierre Poilievre replied that his rival works “for the Liberals” and not “for Quebecers.”
The PQ behind the Bloc
François Legault asked Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois, on Thursday to convince Mr. Blanchet to reconsider his choice.
This request discouraged him during a press scrum in Quebec.
“François Legault finds himself stuck with a party that has no loyalty to Quebec,” he said in an interview on the show The Balance Sheet.
In terms of immigration, Mr. Legault has three options, according to Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
“We can either appeal to the Prime Minister of Canada and try to convince him to give us powers in immigration, it didn’t work,” he explains.
He then raises the second option, which is to try to convince the opposition party in Ottawa, but this choice does not work either. According to him, Mr. Poilievre would not give all the powers either.
He therefore has only one alternative: to address “the only party that is loyal to Quebec.”
According to him, the next federal election could even allow the Bloc to become the official opposition.
“There, we will have influence and a better position,” thinks the leader of the PQ.
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon clarifies that he does not support the Liberals or the Conservatives in Ottawa. “It’s not my responsibility,” he justifies.
To see the full interviews, click on the videos above.
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