It’s the unloved Justin Trudeau who must be laughing in his beard. While his opponents – and even some discreet members of his entourage – dream of seeing him leave public life, leaving someone else the privilege of leading the Liberal troops in the next federal election, people in Quebec are tearing each other’s hair out over his immediate future.
The Bloc, the Parti Québécois and the CAQ, in fact, have different opinions on the subject.
First, we know that since the NDP ended the agreement with the federal Liberals that allowed them to stay in power, the Trudeau government has been floating on an uncertain sea. It is in a minority.
The Conservatives, sitting at the top of the voting intentions, want to take advantage of this and will table a motion of non-confidence in the government next week. But to “pull the plug” on the Trudeau government, they need the support of the opposition.
The leader of the Bloc Québécois said from the start that he would not support this motion. But in a sensational statement Thursday, François Legault asked the leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, to make Yves-François Blanchet see reason, so that he does not support the Trudeau government next week.
He told journalists (to whom he does not speak often, in the manner of Poilievre) that it was to “defend the interests of Quebecers and then of the Quebec nation.” But if elections give power to the Conservatives, nothing is guaranteed for Quebec’s demands, particularly in immigration, so dear to Mr. Legault. Who knows, it might be worse!
In reality, in fact, we don’t know much about Pierre Poilievre’s positions on anything, other than the carbon tax.
The Bloc, moreover, persists and signs. For Blanchet, bringing down the government would amount to supporting the Conservatives, a service he refuses to provide them. He also hopes to obtain, in exchange for his support for Justin Trudeau, an extension of the increase in old age security to seniors aged 65 to 74, even if this will not happen because the government does not have the means.
Quebec Premier François Legault answers the opposition during question period at the Quebec Legislative Assembly, Tuesday, September 10, 2024. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press Archives)
For his part, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon of the PQ believes that the CAQ is sending the message to the Conservatives that François Legault’s party is on their side. Let us recall that in the 2021 federal election, François Legault gave his support to the federal Conservatives, to the great displeasure of the Quebec political class and the bewilderment of the recipients of this largesse.
I am convinced that there will be elections before the deadline of October 20, 2025, it is only a matter of time, and that they will be won by the Conservatives. This little crisis between the CAQ, the PQ and the Bloc will resolve itself soon, but until then, what we are seeing is not a very pretty sight.
Who speaks on behalf of Quebecers in Ottawa? The Premier of Quebec or the leader of the Bloc Québécois? Or the Canadian Prime Minister when he is a Quebecer? That is the fundamental question.
If we answer the Premier of Quebec, we will be told that he has nothing to contribute to federal politics. That is interference. If we answer the leader of the Bloc Québécois, we can only see the limits of his interventions because the party will never win power. (I am one of those who believe that the Bloc is of limited use.)
Finally, very few would dare say that Justin Trudeau speaks for Quebecers in Ottawa.
The simplest thing would be for Trudeau to bow out quickly in the best interests of the country, which would allow the Liberal Party to choose a new leader and campaign before October 2025. We are turning the page and closing the door on the Trudeau era, which is what a majority of Canadians want.
Justin Trudeau has lost his panache (even the BBC is talking about his electoral woes), buried the country under an extraordinary deficit and debt, lost control of immigration and has not been able, despite the billions “invested” in solving the country’s housing crisis. Not to mention all the others. (Ask the First Nations if Justin Trudeau has kept his promises.)
Yes, inflation is down, as are interest rates, but it is not the only thing that can be credited to him. It is the smart actions of the Bank of Canada that have made the difference.
Ten years in power is a long time. Too long perhaps, but that is our system. Justin Trudeau is the Liberals’ number one problem. Everyone sees it, knows it, except him. He is hanging on for nothing. His number has been drawn. Next.
Either the sovereignists allow him to stay in the saddle for a few months – which would change nothing – or they pull the rug out from under his feet right now if they listen to François Legault.
None of this is very important since the ending of the film is known to all but for now, we look like a bunch of idiots.
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