Bloc Québécois leader expresses optimism as byelections are called

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet expressed optimism on the day three by-elections were called in Quebec, noting that his party’s candidates will highlight “the Quebec difference,” particularly on environmental and cultural issues.

Even though Quebec has just held provincial elections, Blanchet believes that voters will pay close attention to this new election campaign, this time at the federal level.

“The timing is ideal. Let’s remember that last time, in the hope that there would be no election campaign, no record to defend, no debates, and no discussions, Carney called the election during the construction industry’s summer break in Chicoutimi–Le Fjord, with voting scheduled for the first day of school,” he said Sunday morning, surrounded by his three candidates at Molson Park in Montreal’s Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie borough.

“I am convinced that the level of interest we will be able to generate and the issues we will raise will ensure that many people will cast their ballots on Dec. 7,” he added.

Prime Minister Mark Carney officially called six byelections across the country on Sunday, including three in Quebec in the ridings of Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, and Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton.

Liberal candidate Daniel Gobeil won the most recent byelection in Quebec last August in Chicoutimi–Le Fjord. When asked how the Bloc could win the upcoming byelections, Blanchet said his party “believes it is extremely competitive in all ridings” and urged citizens to listen to the Bloc’s proposals.

In addition to culture and the environment, Blanchet emphasized the importance of defending Quebec’s interests in trade.

“None of the Quebec-specific issues I’m highlighting today are being championed by Mr. Carney’s government; on the contrary, it’s throwing them to the wolves in negotiations that it’s dragging out to score political points off Donald Trump’s failures,” Blanchet said.

He hopes that Quebecers will be able to avoid “another fear campaign” that will put the U.S. president in the spotlight.

“For now, he (Mark Carney) is using the crisis with the United States to advance an agenda that is both oil- and finance-driven, which does not seem to serve Quebec’s interests,” he said.

Cormier, ‘another banker’

The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) confirmed Sunday morning that Guy Cormier, former president and CEO of the Desjardins Group, will run to succeed former minister Steven Guilbeault in the Laurier—Sainte-Marie riding under the Liberal banner.

During Sunday morning’s press conference, the Bloc’s candidate in that riding, Zumretay Arkin, former vice president of the World Uyghur Congress, acknowledged “that this is a fairly strong candidacy.”

“But it is also up to the citizens of our district to decide whether they want another economist, another banker, to take over,” she continued.

For Blanchet, Cormier’s candidacy “has the merit of highlighting the profound difference between the political platforms of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Bloc Québécois.”

“The people of Laurier—Sainte-Marie will have the responsibility (…) to ask themselves whether they want another financier who imposes the oil-industry values of Canada’s Conservatives, or whether they want to follow more closely in the footsteps of Steven Guilbeault,” said Blanchet, referring to Guilbeault’s environmental values.

In Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, a district left vacant by the departure of Alexandre Boulerice, who joined Québec solidaire, the Bloc is fielding Alexandre Curzi, executive director of the Union des artistes. Caroline Emond, for her part, is running for the Bloc in Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews