Battle in Quebec is between the Liberals and the Bloc: Blanchet – iPolitics.ca

The Bloc Qubcois wants to win 40 of Quebecs 78 seats in the House of Commons in the federal election on Sept. 20, said Bloc Leader Yves-Franois Blanchet on Monday.

Forty is the majority in Quebec, Blanchet told QUB Radio.

Since the 2019 election, in order to pass legislation, the minority Liberal government has needed the support of the Bloc, the NDP, or both, which it has received, Blanchet said.

Both the Liberal budget and the throne speech were adopted with minority support, and resolutions such as the Blocs motion affirming that Quebec is a French-speaking nation would not have been adopted under a Liberal majority.

Most political commentators agree that, in calling an early election, Prime Minister Trudeaus main goal is to win that majority.

Taking reporters questions in a park within sight of the Quebec national assembly, Blanchet said Quebec voters want another minority.

I think only the Bloc Qubcois can (accomplish) that.

The party only runs candidates in Quebec.

In the 2019 election, and under Blanchets leadership, the party went from 10 seats to 32, while the Liberals dropped nationally to 157 seats, 13 short of a majority.

When asked which seats he thought the Bloc could win this time, Blanchet named eight ridings the party came close to winning in 2019, all but one of them now Liberal: Quebec (in the centre of the provincial capital),ChateauguayLacolle, Hochelaga (in Montreal), ChicoutimiLe Fjord, Sherbrooke, ArgenteuilLa Petite Nation, LongueuilCharles-LeMoyne, and GaspLes les-de-la-Madeleine.

Then he added RichmondArthabaska, now held by Conservative Alain Reyes, and Louis-Hberts riding in Quebec City, where his old buddy Marc Dean is challenging Liberal incumbent Jol Lightbound.

Some polls suggest support for the Bloc is slipping.

The Quebec riding was won in 2019 by Jean-Yves Duclos, now president of the Treasury Board in the Trudeau cabinet. Duclos got 325 votes more than his Bloc opponent, Christiane Gagnon, who held the seat for the Bloc from 1993 until 2011.

ChicoutimiLe Fjord is held by the Conservatives Quebec organizer, Richard Martel.

The Liberal MP for GaspLes les-de-la-Madeleine is Diane Lebouthillier, minister of National Revenue.

This time, the Bloc has a record to put on the table, Blanchet said, referring to legislation the party has backed, such as Bill C-10 to tax and regulate online media companies, and efforts in favour of Quebecs aluminum, forestry, and dairy sectors.

Friendly relations between Trudeau and Quebec Premier Franois Legault have been described as a bromance, with the two appearing chummy at announcements of federal funding for daycare and industrial development in the province.

Blanchet said he understands Legault is working with Trudeau to get federal money, but he doubts Justin and Franois have coffee together every morning.

I havent spoken recently with Mr. Legault, he said, adding he also has very, very, very many points of agreement with the Parti Qubcois.

Blanchet said one gain the Bloc made in this Parliament was a $50-million research fund for forestry, not only in Quebec, but across Canada.

But thats peanuts, compared to the billions the Trudeau government has injected in oil and gas, he said.

And rather than going ahead with the Trans Mountain Pipeline to carry Alberta oil to the Pacific coast, Blanchet said he wouldnt object if Ottawa took the $10 billion it promised to Trans Mountain and gave it to Alberta to help it diversify its economy.

While the Blocs position is that it exists to represent the interests of Quebec, and considers Quebec City our only national capital, ending oil and gas production is necessary for Quebec and the planet, he said.

Continued fossil-fuel development would also hurt Albertas agriculture sector, leaving its fields as deserts, he added.

Albertas transition from fossil fuels would mean developing alternative sources of energy and new sources of income.

But, Im not the one to tell Alberta what to do, Blanchet admitted.

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Battle in Quebec is between the Liberals and the Bloc: Blanchet - iPolitics.ca