Bloc throws down gauntlet on Liberals
The Liberals have until Oct. 29 to pass two acts or the Bloc will enter into talks with the Conservatives to topple the Trudeau government
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OTTAWA — The deadline has been set.
During question period on Thursday, the Bloc Québécois reaffirmed their deadline to the Trudeau Liberals to meet their demands or face the toppling of their minority government.
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Bloc House Leader Alain Therrien repeated that threat in the House.
“The Liberals have until Oct. 29 to improve OAS (old-age security) for those aged 74 and under, and to protect supply management,” Therrien said in French, urging the Liberals to pass bills C-319 and C-282.
“Why these two measures? Well, it’s good for Quebecers, but also there’s consensus in this house — the Liberals, Conservatives and the NDP have already agreed to this. So why leave Quebecers waiting when we can make gains for Quebec?”
Bill C-319 is currently in third reading the House of Commons, while C-282 completed second reading in the Senate in April, and is currently under consideration of the Senate Foreign Affairs and International Trade committee.
Thursday’s question period began with House Speaker Greg Fergus informing Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre his Conservatives would have the day’s question allotment reduced from five to two as punishment for not withdrawing statements he made last week against NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, referring to him in the House as a “liar” and “phony.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nearly got himself thrown out of the House on Wednesday for accusing the Tories of homophobia after mishearing a shouted, off-mic statement made by a Conservative MP.
Ducking Therrien’s questions about the Oct. 29 confidence deadline, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon accused the Bloc of voting against government policy relating to seniors.
“What does (Therrien) say to the 6,200 people in his own riding who have joined the federal dental care program?” MacKinnon responded in French. “What does he say to them when they ask him why he voted against that?”
In response, Therrien said the Liberals need to set their priorities straight.
“If they continue like this, they’re going to have to ask a lot of questions next year,” he said.
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“On Oct. 29, maybe instead of playing partisan games, this government should get to work,” Therrien said. “The Bloc Québécois’ demands are clear, positive and have agreement in this house — they can either block seniors or farmers, or they could choose to respond with things like that and sabotage their own government.”
“Will they survive by helping Quebecers, or will they die by their partisan swords?” he added.
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