Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet has begun talks with other opposition parties about ousting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government.
Today was the deadline the Bloc had given the Liberal Party to help pass a pair of bills in exchange for continued support for the vote of confidence.
With both bills now much closer to becoming law than they were five weeks ago (when the EU issued an ultimatum to avoid a “pre-Christmas” election), Blanchett announced that she would carry out her threats.
The Bloc has now written to the Conservative and New Democratic Party leaders in the House of Commons to open a dialogue.
“This is what we said we would do and this is what we are doing,” Blanchet said in French, adding that he believed the government was at risk of virtual collapse.
According to a copy of the Bloc’s letter initiating dialogue with its opponents, Bloc House Leader Alain Therrien said that from now on, members of the House of Representatives with third-party status will support and vote against the no-confidence motion. I’m writing. The government will do so as long as what is on the agenda is consistent with Quebec’s interests.
What Blanchett wanted
The language echoes what Blanchett said at Tuesday’s press conference: If the Liberals come to the table with something that meets their demands or benefits Quebecers; This suggests that assistance may still be available.
“But as we speak, we are not negotiating anything. We are negotiating with the opposition,” he said.
The Bloc seeks a Royal Recommendation to ensure that the private member’s Bill C-319, which proposes a 10% increase in Old Age Security (OAS) payments for seniors aged 65 to 74, is approved for public funding. was.
And I hope that Bill C-282, which seeks to protect dairy, poultry and egg producers in future trade negotiations, will be quickly passed.
The Liberals clearly rejected the increase in senior benefits as a bad precedent and bad policy, and although they supported the Supply Management Bill, they were unable to persuade the Senate to accelerate its consideration.
Blanchett said the Liberal Party’s failure to meet those demands puts the party in a position to vote on a no-confidence motion at the earliest opportunity and hold an election in which Canadians and Quebecers can decide on a new parliament.
“I’m ready for the election,” Blanchett said. “We may not only be ready, but eagerly anticipating it. I don’t think Quebecers want an election all that much, but this is where we are now. I believe they understand that.”
What is happening now?
On the way to today’s cabinet meeting, Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos called the bloc’s deadline in French an “artificial ultimatum” and said the Liberals would talk to other parties to find areas of common ground to maintain. He said he intends to continue. This minority Congress is alive.
By fall, the Trudeau government had survived two Conservative-led no-confidence votes, with both the European Union and the National Democratic Party rejecting attempts by Conservative leader Pierre Poièvre to force an early election.
More is expected. However, several political developments would be necessary for the government to collapse.
The current Conservative-led privilege conflict in the House of Commons needs to end, and the Liberals also need to lose support from NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
Mr Singh made it clear last week that his party did not intend to use the autumn seat, its only day of opposition, to introduce a no-confidence motion, but rather to focus on the issue of access to abortion.
Yesterday, Mr. Poièvre urged Mr. Blanchet to help get Canadians to the polls, while accusing the separatist leader of not offering “anything” to Quebecers.
Blanchet responded today, saying Poilievre needs to realize that to topple the government, he needs to end the filibuster and move forward with other issues, such as a motion of no confidence.
“Despite Mr. Poilievre’s disrespectful remarks and statements, he needs us. And we can start by saying please,” Blanchet said. “But we won’t do anything that will benefit the Conservatives, but it will benefit Quebecers. And bringing down the government will benefit Quebecers.”
With files from CTV News’ Mike Le Couteur
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