Legault wants Bloc to end support of Trudeau's Liberals ahead of non-confidence vote
Legault said PQ leader must 'show some courage' and demand Bloc to drop its support
Quebec's premier appears to want a federal election to take placesooner rather than later.
In a brief statement to reporters at the National Assembly on Thursday, Legaultexpressed his disagreement with the Bloc Qubcois's decision to support Justin Trudeau's Liberal minority government in a non-confidence motion that is expected next week.
For months, Legault said, he's been trying to convince the federal Liberal government to reduce the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec. In the last two years, that number has essentially doubled from 300,000 to about 600,000. He said any measures put forth by Trudeau's government to address that issue have been "insignificant."
In his statement, Legault stopped short of directly asking Bloc Leader Yves-Franois Blanchetto vote against the Trudeau government in the non-confidence motion. Instead, he appeared to try to put pressure on Parti Qubcois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
"Yesterday, the leader of the BlocQubcois, the sister party of thePartiQubcois, announced that he will support the Trudeau government in next week's non-confidence motion," Legault said.
"I am asking Mr. St-PierrePlamondon, the leader of thePartiQubcois, to show some courage today and to ask his friend at the BlocQubcoisto change his mind, to not support the Trudeau government next week and to defend the interests ofQuebecersand the Quebec nation"
Legaultwalked away without fielding any questions as reporters tried to get him to answer whether he felt Quebec would be in better hands with Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives in power.
Blanchet didn't take long before taking to social media to reply to the premier.
"The answer remains no," he posted to X, in reference to Legault's plea to vote against the federal Liberal government.
In his post, Blanchet said he was "neither a Conservative, nor a Liberal nor a caquiste," which is a French word to describe a supporter of Legault's Coalition Avenir Qubec party.
"I am the leader of the Bloc Qubcois. I serve Quebecers, not the Liberals, based on my own judgment."
He also pointed out that the Conservative party's motion does not mention anything about the immigration issues Legault brought up.
"I am happily assuming that if and when the Bloc will bring down the Liberals, Mr. Legault will support the Bloc Qubcois."
The Bloc is coming off a victory this week ina federal byelectionin the LaSallemardVerdun riding in Montreal a crushing blow to the federal Liberals whose popularity continues to plummet.
On Tuesday, following the victory of his candidate Louis-Philippe Sauv, Blanchet said hebelieves the Liberal government's days are numbered, but that doesn't mean his party will strive to bring the government down.
"We want to advance important issues for Quebec. We have a golden opportunity right now," he said.
Blanchet saidit would be irresponsible for him to not try to get the Liberals to adhere to some of the Bloc's demands before the next election.
'Desperate attempt'
As far as the PQ leader is concerned, Legault was essentially asking for his party to "succeed where he has failed."
St-Pierre Plamondon said the premier has failed in his six years in power to get concessions from Ottawa on immigration matters.
He added that Legault's comments basically amount to an endorsement of the Conservatives, aparty he says does not have Quebec's best interests at heart
"I don't understand this desperate attempt from the premier," said St-Pierre Plamondon.
"If the premier's plan is to stand nextthe Conservatives from Alberta, then I'm going to stand next to the Bloc Qubcoisand everyone who is loyal to Quebec's interests."
St-Pierre Plamondon said the long-term solution to the province's immigration challenges is sovereignty, something he says Legault does not want to admit.
With files from John Paul Tasker and Sabrina Jonas
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