Bloc urges next Liberal leader to call election after nomination

Once the Liberals have made their choice, Justin Trudeau’s replacement must call an election without delay, says Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet.

“I think an election should be held as soon as possible,” said Blanchet Tuesday, speaking to the Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal (CORIM). “The next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada must, as soon as he or she is appointed, call an election.”

It’s in the “best interests” of Quebec and Canada, the leader of the sovereignist party told a press scrum on the sidelines of his speech.

“We can’t have one bit of negotiation done by Mr. Trudeau, followed by another bit of negotiation done by the new leader of the Liberal Party, followed by another bit of negotiation that will be done by who knows who, because no one knows how the next government will be composed.”

Blanchet reiterated that he doesn’t see the relevance of recalling Parliament to deploy an aid plan to deal with Donald Trump’s tariff threat at this stage. “We don’t have the information we need to deploy an intelligent plan to help businesses.”

While Quebec Premier François Legault is calling for an early renegotiation of the free trade agreement, Blanchet believes the process cannot begin without a federal election.

“It’s inevitable that between now and the signing of a new free trade treaty, there will have been a federal election,” Blanchet said. “So, logic suggests doing it as soon as possible so that stability sets in for the bulk of the negotiation.”

The plea comes at a time when polls suggest a Liberal comeback following a potential victory for candidate Mark Carney. A new Léger poll suggests that a Carney-led Liberal Party would be tied with the Conservatives.

Blanchet said he paid little heed to polls. “You know, we’ve seen some movement in voting intention and I don’t really care.”

During his speech, Blanchet raised the specter of the federal government sacrificing Quebec’s economic interests “as a bargaining chip” in its negotiations with the Trump administration.

“Can Quebecers spare a large and strong voice in a Parliament to ensure that Quebec’s economy won’t be sold off for profit… The examples are obvious of the automobile, Ontario or Western oil and other sectors that are typically Canadian.”

He also denounced intentions to revive a pipeline project that would pass through Quebec to allow Alberta oil to be exported to Europe. “At the same time, we’re being told, as if it had something to do with it, that the time has come to unroll a pipeline down Quebecers’ throats to move oil to the Atlantic.”

Legault had opened the door last week to considering a new pipeline project, provided social acceptance was forthcoming. Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, Mélanie Joly, had also mentioned that trade tensions with the United States gave cause to reflect on the relevance of such a project.

For Blanchet, the threat of tariffs is being used to put this project back on the agenda. “There is no project, there is no project right now, it’s like a fable of politicians saying, ‘Ah, we’re going to go eat the Conservatives’ lunch.'”

“There’s no economic interest for Quebec in wanting to run a pipeline over our heads. And there’s an environmental harm for which we’re all paying dearly.”

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews