bloc quebecois

Friday November 15, 2019

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday November 15, 2019

As western tensions rise, BQ’s Blanchet says West shouldn’t look to him for help

October 3, 2019

As economic tensions rise in Western Canada over the slump in the oil sector, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is warning the region that it should expect no help from him — and saying that he still wants Quebec to be its own country.

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa Wednesday morning, Blanchet was asked about the push for independence in the West and whether he would consider setting a more collaborative example in Ottawa.

“I doubt it, because I still believe that Quebec will do better when it becomes a country,” he said. “So I’m not the one that will fight to have a nice, beautiful and united Canada.”

Trudeau’s meeting with Blanchet is the latest in a series of meetings between the PM and opposition leaders as the Liberal minority government prepares for a new session of Parliament.

Blanchet was also asked if he has any advice to offer those pushing for western independence.

December 13, 2018

“If they were attempting to create a green state in western Canada, I might be tempted to help them. If they are trying to create an oil state in Western Canada, they cannot expect any help from us,” he said.

Blanchet said he will continue to fight, through national and international channels, the idea of “obsessively” extracting oil.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney shot back at Blanchet’s comments, saying Quebec should not reap the financial benefits of Alberta’s oil sector if Quebecers are so opposed to its existence.

“If you are so opposed to the energy that we produced in Alberta, then why are you so keen on taking the money generated by the oilfield workers in this province and across western Canada?” he said. “You cannot have your cake and eat it too. Pick a lane.”

October 22, 2019

Blanchet did not say much about Quebec separation during the campaign. He did say that, in Parliament, he would continue defending Quebec’s interests.

“We are people who are convinced that one day Quebec will take on the attributes of sovereignty,” Blanchet said on the final day of the campaign.

“But that’s not the mandate of this election. We’ve been saying it for five weeks.”

The Bloc surged during the campaign, going from 10 seats prior to the election to 32 afterward. (CBC) 

 

Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday, March 1, 2013

House calls being made as part of EI audit

Opposition leader Tom Mulcair has been working tirelessly for nearly a year to position his New Democrats as the government in waiting, and himself as a future prime minister. Thursday both those objectives grew measurably more difficult to achieve.

With the defection of Quebec NDP MP Claude Patry to the moribund but apparently still kicking. With the defection of Quebec NDP MP Claude Patry to the moribund but apparently still kicking Bloc Quebecois, it now becomes clear that Mulcair is fighting on three fronts to hold the historic gains made by his party in the 2011 election. Never mind building on those gains: Mulcair will be putting out this fire for the foreseeable future, focusing on the preservation of his Quebec beachhead. Even that is no longer a foregone conclusion. There’s Justin Trudeau to consider.

The truly aggravating thing for Mulcair here must be the realization that he brought this on himself with his ill-considered bid to “improve on” the federal Clarity Act in January. That was a battle of choice, not necessity. He could have left well enough alone. Now the damage is done, and its ripple effects are spreading.

Consider how humbly it began, with Bill C-457, initiated by Bloc MP Andre Bellavance. Had that passed – it was never more than a goad, on account of the Bloc holding, at that time, four seats – it would have repealed the law that sets the terms for separation. Among other measures, the Clarity Act states Canada cannot entertain such negotiations absent a clear majority, voting on a clear question.  (Source: National Post)

November 27, 2006

It always happens… I take off for a few days and a huge story drops begging for mass punditry and editorial cartoons. Just as I’m starting a long Thanksgiving weekend with my wife’s family in the U.S. I hear the news that Stephen Harper drops a proposal before Parliament which would recognize Quebec as a nation within Canada. Then, the radio reception fades and I don’t hear about the story until I’m on my way back home 5 days later. (The U.S. media took no notice of this Quebec as a nation news from what I heard).

So as Canada pondered its future in what I thought would become a new constitutional crisis I decided to shut out all access to the goings-on via the Internet and concentrate on personal issues: drinking beer, eating turkey, shopping for xmas gifts for the kids, dining out with my wife, attending a bowling birthday party for my 10 year old niece, going to see Borat with my brother inlaw, and capping everything off with more brown pops before heading home.

Much to my surprise was the speed in which things would be decided. All day today the motion has been debated, and despite a few exciting bits such as the resignation of a conservative cabinet minister, the proposal is to be voted on tonight, and it’s expected to be supported by all parties, including the Liberals, and including the Bloc Quebecois. Getting those two to agree on something so divisive as the old “distinct society” issue is monumental. Pierre Trudeau ought to be rolling in his grave as the Toronto Star’s Patrick Corrigan illustrated.

I guess this all came about after Gilles Duceppe put the motion before the house that declared “Quebec a nation” without the additional “within a united Canada” which was added by the Conservatives in their own motion. Am I right? If so, then that answered my question as to why this all of a sudden came about. Dolts calling into radio talk shows gave me the wrong impression Harper just pulled this one out of his a$$. (Actually, Harper’s put a lot of thought into Canadian federalism than a lot of people know.) In fact, this recent ‘Quebec as a Nation’ thing was started by the Bloc Quebecois. The Bloc’s motion was probably inspired by Michael Ignatieff’s “Quebec is a nation” comments last month, designed to play a bit of cheap politics just on the eve of the Liberal’s leadership vote.

If tonight’s vote does in fact end this brief discussion on Canadian unity then I think Harper may have pulled off a brilliant political maneuvre as a simple response to the proposals raised by the Bloc Quebecois and Michael Ignatieff. I really don’t think anyone has an appetite to debate a largely symbolic recognition of status proposal, not now anyway.

* * * Update, Nov. 29 * * *

A little late but at least I drew something reflecting the Quebec is a nation thing:

Now I’m just wondering what’s going to happen the next time I take a couple of days off.