Gilles Duceppe talks niqabs, Energy East and Quebec

BlocQubcoisLeader GillesDuceppehasjust a few weeks left to pitch his partyto voters.

The Bloc went into the campaign with twoseats in the House of Commons.

This week he sat down withCBC Montreal'sDaybreak host Mike Finnerty.

• Muslim women's group 'disgusted' by Bloc ad campaign against niqab
• Bloc Qubcois targets NDP over niqabs, pipelines in controversial new ad

Here are some key moments from the interview:

On theniqab

Over the last two weeks, the Bloc has come under fire for its position in favour of banningniqabsat citizenship ceremonies.

Duceppesaid it was a question of principle and gender equality in society.

"I think that we have to make it clear that it is full equality between men and women and put an end to that and discuss something else. I think that it should have been done since the last four years,"Duceppe said.

Back in June when Duceppe took back the helm of the Bloc,Duceppetold Daybreak that the party's advertisements denouncingniqabswas not a good strategy.

"I think we have to debate politely with people if we want to convince them," saidDuceppeat the time.

Now,Duceppesaid that the advertisingcampaign differentiates the Bloc from the New Democratic Party.

"The advertising was different this time around. We were discussing the support forTransCanadapipeline so illustrating two differences, important differences with the NDP and us during that debate," saidDuceppe today.

On Energy East pipeline

Gilles Duceppe talks Energy East pipeline

9 years ago

Duration 1:27

The Bloc Qubcois leader insists the pipeline won't pass through Montreal.

Duceppewent on the attack over TransCanada's proposed Energy East pipeline project, going so far as to allege the company is misleading the public.

• MORE:GillesDucepperefuses to believe Energy East oil will be refined in Montreal

TransCanadasaysthe pipelinewould bring oilto refineries in Montreal and Lvis, Que., as well as Saint John, N.B.

But Duceppewas adamantthe oil won't be refined in Quebec.

"No not at all, you're wrong on that,"Duceppesaid to Daybreak.

"Maybe they are lying, period...That oil, not TransCanada with the Energy East, not at all. It won't be refined," he continued.

Later in the program Tuesday, TransCanadaspokesman TimDuboycesaysthe oil will indeed betransported to refineries in Montreal's east end and Levis, Quebec.

Duboyce saidthe issue is "black and white."

"We have inter-connection agreement with Suncorin East End Montreal, with Valeroin Lvisacross from Quebec City, and with Irving oil in St-John, New Brunswick," Duboyce said.

"The fact of the matter is we have these agreements in place, and that is a key component to the reason for building Energy East."

On Quebec sovereignty

The Blocwill fight for Quebec's future, interests and values and at the federal level, saidDuceppe.

"We need people to represent Quebec in Ottawa," saidDuceppe. "And the strategic vote, especially forsovereignists, is to vote for sovereigntists."

The NDPfailed to support Quebec since the orange wave in 2011, saidDuceppe.