MNI: Bloc Leader Cool To Poilievre Snap Canada Election Demand

MNI (OTTAWA) - Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet Monday downplayed opposition calls for a snap election, saying he's more interested in making sure his own province wins greater power than in siding with other parties on confidence votes.

Asked about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's call for the Quebec separatist party to force an election soon after Parliament re-opens next week rather than propping up the Liberals, Blanchet said his job isn't to simply switch Prime Ministers.

“I’m here to make gains for Quebec,” Blanchet said, speaking days after the NDP ended a deal supporting Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government. The Bloc's priorities include the environment, seniors' benefits and protecting Quebec's language and culture. The Bloc leader also said Liberals should be working in a spirit of delivering on Quebec's priorities and that an early election can't be ruled out.

Blanchet also said Trudeau and Poilievre take some similar positions around the mostly French-speaking province and Poilievre hasn't outlined what spending cuts he would make to deliver on his fiscal austerity promises. (See: MNI INTERVIEW: Weak Growth, Election Dent Canada Fiscal Anchor)