Bloc Québécois to Begin Talks With Other Parties to Topple Government After Deadline Passes

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet speaks in the foyer of the House of Commons following a vote in the House on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 2, 2024. The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby

The Bloc Québécois says it will begin talks with the other parties to bring down the Liberal government after it didn’t provide support to two private member’s bills by the Bloc’s deadline.

“The government was invited to pass into law two bills that came from the Bloc Québécois, that were approved and supported by all parties in the Parliament,” Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters in Parliament. “They had until Oct. 29, which is today, to deliver that, which they did not do.”

Blanchet told reporters his party had given the Liberal government five weeks to pass the bills, related to raising pensions and keeping supply management out of trade negotiations, so that there would be time for an election before the end of the year. He said his party is ready for an election and “might be expecting that with enthusiasm,” adding that while Quebecers may not want an election, “they will understand that this is where we are now.”

The Bloc leader had called on the minority Liberal government to pass Bill C-319, to amend the Old Age Security Act, and Bill C-282, which is related to supply management, before Oct. 29. Bill C-319 would give seniors aged 65 to 74 the same 10 percent increase in Old Age Security benefits previously granted to those aged 75 and over. C-282 would make dairy, poultry, and egg quotas non-negotiable in any future trade negotiations.

During question period on Oct. 29, Blanchet called for the Conservative Party to table a non-confidence motion and stop with its “filibustering.” Parliament has been gridlocked for weeks over the Liberal government’s refusal to obey an order by House Speaker Greg Fergus and hand over documents related to Sustainable Development Technology Canada’s handling of public funds.

The Conservatives have said that getting the documents is important for ensuring transparency.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded that it was clear “who is here to play petty politics and who is here to deliver for Canadians.”

When asked about Blanchet’s comments on Oct. 29, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the Liberal Party was ready for an early election. Freeland added that the Liberals’ communication lines with the Bloc remain “open” and that when it came to the party’s demands on seniors’ pensions, the federal government was “proud of our record when it comes to supporting seniors in Canada.”

Non-Confidence Motions

The Liberal government has faced two unsuccessful confidence votes since the House of Commons returned in September. In both cases, the Conservative motion failed after the Liberals, Bloc Québécois, and New Democrats voted against them.

Even with the Bloc signalling it will vote in favour of the next non-confidence motion alongside the Tories, it would still not be enough to bring down the government and trigger an election. The Conservatives’ 119 MPs and the Bloc’s 33 MPs would fall short of the 169 MPs needed for a majority, as long as the NDP’s 25 MPs continue to vote with the 153 Liberal MPs.

The New Democrats have so far not indicated that they will vote against the government, with leader Jagmeet Singh repeatedly saying they will decide on each vote on a case-by-case basis. However, the party could choose to abstain from the vote, which would give the Tories and Bloc a majority if the two Independent MPs also voted alongside them.

When speaking to reporters on Oct. 24, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said some Liberal MPs upset with the prime minister’s leadership had told the Tories they would vote in favour of a non-confidence motion. During an Oct. 23 caucus meeting, Liberal MPs presented the prime minister with a letter asking him to step down as leader, which Trudeau later said he would not do.

Liberal MP Ken McDonald told reporters on Oct. 23 that in regards to a non-confidence motion, “that’s something I would have to consider.”