Quebec’s premier appears to want a federal election to take place sooner rather than later.
In a brief statement to reporters at the National Assembly on Thursday, Legault expressed his disagreement with the Bloc Québécois’s decision to support Justin Trudeau’s Liberal minority government in a non-confidence motion that is expected next week.
For months, Legault said, he’s been trying to convince the federal Liberal government to reduce the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec. In the last two years, that number has essentially doubled from 300,000 to about 600,000. He said any measures put forth by Trudeau’s government to address that issue have been “insignificant.”
In his statement, Legault stopped short of directly asking Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet to vote against the Trudeau government in the non-confidence motion. Instead, he appeared to try to put pressure on Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
“Yesterday, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, the sister party of the Parti Québécois, announced that he will support the Trudeau government in next week’s non-confidence motion,” Legault said.
Quebec Premier François Legault says he’s tired of Ottawa not taking action on immigration. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet took to X to say he won’t change his vote.
“I am asking Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of the Parti Québécois, to show some courage today and to ask his friend at the Bloc Québécois to change his mind, to not support the Trudeau government next week and to defend the interests of Quebecers and the Quebec nation”
Legault walked away without fielding any questions as reporters tried to get him to answer whether he felt Quebec would be in better hands with Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in power.
Blanchet didn’t take long before taking to social media to reply to the premier.
“The answer remains no,” he posted to X, in reference to Legault’s plea to vote against the federal Liberal government.
In his post, Blanchet said he was “neither a Conservative, nor a Liberal nor a caquiste,” which is a French word to describe a supporter of Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec party.
“I am the leader of the Bloc Québécois. I serve Quebecers, not the Liberals, based on my own judgment.”
He also pointed out that the Conservative party’s motion does not mention anything about the immigration issues Legault brought up.
“I am happily assuming that if and when the Bloc will bring down the Liberals, Mr. Legault will support the Bloc Québécois.”
The Bloc is coming off a victory this week in a federal byelection in the LaSalle—Émard—Verdun riding in Montreal — a crushing blow to the federal Liberals whose popularity continues to plummet.
On Tuesday, following the victory of his candidate Louis-Philippe Sauvé, Blanchet said he believes the Liberal government’s days are numbered, but that doesn’t mean his party will strive to bring the government down.
“We want to advance important issues for Quebec. We have a golden opportunity right now,” he said.
Blanchet said it would be irresponsible for him to not try to get the Liberals to adhere to some of the Bloc’s demands before the next election.
‘Desperate attempt’
As far as the PQ leader is concerned, Legault was essentially asking for his party to “succeed where he has failed.”
St-Pierre Plamondon said the premier has failed in his six years in power to get concessions from Ottawa on immigration matters.
He added that Legault’s comments basically amount to an endorsement of the Conservatives, a party he says does not have Quebec’s best interests at heart
“I don’t understand this desperate attempt from the premier,” said St-Pierre Plamondon.
“If the premier’s plan is to stand next the Conservatives from Alberta, then I’m going to stand next to the Bloc Québécois and everyone who is loyal to Quebec’s interests.”
St-Pierre Plamondon said the long-term solution to the province’s immigration challenges is sovereignty, something he says Legault does not want to admit.