Quebec Premier François Legault on Thursday called on the Bloc Quebecois to help oust the federal Liberal government and call an election, saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to disregard the province’s will.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet responded minutes later, rejecting the request and saying he would serve Quebecers “according to my own judgment.”
Legault’s comments were in response to Conservative Leader Pierre Poirierbre’s plans to introduce a motion of no confidence in the government on Sept. 24. If both the New Democrats and the Bloc Party support the motion of no confidence, it would topple the minority Liberal government and force Canadians into a federal election.
Legault has strongly opposed Trudeau in the past few months, accusing the premier and the Liberals of meddling in matters of provincial jurisdiction and refusing to address a surge in asylum seekers and other temporary migrants in the province.
In his demands with Blanchet, Legault summoned Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Quebecois, whose party is ideologically aligned with the Bloc Québécois, and both parties advocate for Quebec independence.
“I call on Mr. Saint-Pierre Plamondon to find the courage to stop supporting the Trudeau government next week and ask his comrades in the Bloc Quebecois to make concessions in order to defend the interests of Quebecers and the Quebec nation,” Legault said.
“Mr. Saint-Pierre Plamondon has a duty to stand up and be courageous enough to denounce Mr. Blanchet.”
But Blanchette has other plans. He says he wants to squeeze the Liberals to get as many gains as possible for Quebec and instead get the Bloc’s support in the National Assembly. On Wednesday, Blanchette said he would not support the Conservative motion.
The Bloc leader confirmed his position on Thursday, saying “it’s still a no,” adding that Poirierbre’s motion to topple the government is not about Trudeau’s failure on immigration.
Later in Quebec City, St-Pierre Plamondon said he supported Blanchet’s strategy and would not seek to join the “Alberta Conservative Party.” He said there was no point in trying to topple Trudeau.
“Whether it’s Mr. Poirierbre or Mr. Trudeau, we will gain nothing and we will go backwards on the linguistic, fiscal, environmental and social levels,” the PQ leader said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
