The Bloc Québécois has issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government. Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet says his party will begin talks with other opposition parties to trigger an election if the government does not meet two key demands by October 29. The Bloc wants the government to support a private member’s bill, C-319, to increase Old Age Security (OAS) payments by 10 percent for seniors aged 65 to 74.
According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, this would cost $16 billion over the next five years. Blanchet also wants the Liberals to pass another Bloc bill, C-282, exempting Canada’s supply-managed farm sectors – dairy, poultry, and eggs – from future trade deals. “We have not had a friendly relationship with the Liberals for the last five years,” Blanchet said.
But we saw an opportunity to pursue issues that were good for Quebecers and also good for Canadians.
On Wednesday, the Liberals largely voted against a Bloc motion calling for support of the OAS bill. Only five Liberal backbenchers supported it. The motion still passed with the backing of the Conservatives, NDP, and Greens.
“The government did not have the spine to provide us and Canadians and Quebecers with a clear answer,” Blanchet said after the vote. “They just want to get some more time and to keep not deciding about anything. They might hope they go further than Oct. 29. They will not.”
Bloc demands action on key bills
For the OAS bill to become law, the Liberal cabinet must grant it a “royal recommendation” since a private member’s bill cannot force new government spending.
Liberal House Leader Karina Gould confirmed the government would vote against the Bloc motion, saying it would set an inappropriate precedent. Some Liberals argue the Bloc proposal is too expensive and not targeted at the most vulnerable seniors. “I think the question is how we should better support our vulnerable seniors.
Some seniors are doing really well in our country,” said Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. Statistics Canada data shows seniors have the lowest poverty rate of any age group, at 6 percent, compared to 11 percent for those aged 18-64. Critics say the focus should be on low-income seniors and young Canadians struggling with housing costs.
The Bloc’s demands come at a precarious time for Trudeau’s minority government. While losing Bloc support would not automatically force an election, recent polls suggest Blanchet’s party could make significant gains in Quebec at the expense of the Liberals. Blanchet says Quebecers are drawn to his party because they are tired of Trudeau and see other leaders “behaving like bad kids in the schoolyards” while the Bloc remains “serious, responsible, coherent.”
He added: “People in Quebec see that we have their interests in mind. It’s strange, but the party with the clearest vision in parliament is the Bloc Québécois. And we have a distinct advantage. Why? Because unlike the other parties, the Bloc does not want to become the government of Canada.”
Noah Nguyen is a multi-talented developer who brings a unique perspective to his craft. Initially a creative writing professor, he turned to Dev work for the ability to work remotely. He now lives in Seattle, spending time hiking and drinking craft beer with his fiancee.
