Bloc Quebecois confidence vote

Gilles Duceppe received a major boost of support from his party on Saturday, with more than 95 per cent of Bloc Québécois members voting in favour of him to continue his role as leader.

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Duceppe, who has led the sovereigntist party for a decade, said he was "determined" and "soothed" after winning 95.4 per cent of the vote at the Bloc's national council meeting in Trois-Rivières, Que.

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"When there is unity, we are more prepared to go to battle," he said.

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Duceppe had called for the vote in May after he backed down from running for the Parti Québécois leadership, a move some analysts said had politically weakened him.

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But the results nearly mirrored the party's 2005 leadership vote, where Duceppe earned 96.8 per cent support.

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He has also recently denied reports he's planning to retire after the next election.

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The confidence vote comes days before Prime Minister Stephen Harper will release his speech from the throne - a platform which will lay out the main priorities of the minority Conservative government.

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But Duceppe has has outlined five "non-negotiable" conditions the federal government must accept if it wants his party's support for the Oct. 16 throne speech.

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He said he is seeking a clear commitment that Canadian soldiers will leave Afghanistan when the February 2009 mission deadline expires.

The Bloc's other conditions call for:

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- The elimination of all federal spending powers in provincial jurisdictions.

- The government to respect the Kyoto Protocol.

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- The continuation of supply management in the agriculture sector.

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- Promises to help Quebec's battered forestry industry.

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Duceppe said he's ready to vote against the government's throne speech unless his demands are met, raising the possibility of a general election before the new year.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Bloc
• Quebecois
• Gilles
• Duceppe
• sovereigntist
• confidence
• vote
• CBC
• mediascrape

[ophone77]

@ledauphinmontreal Exactly my opinion!

[MaidenQc]

yesss fuck canada

québec will finally become a country no more fucking cacanada

fuck u haper

[viral880911]

Isn't it funny to know that the bloc has fewer seats than my car? Fk the bloc all they are is a disgrace to our sovereignty as an entire nation. I am from Quebec and I am disgusted by our ignorance

[ITHEREONETHATHASNT]

@butkicker75 They were punished tonight for their selfish and indignant stance on everything and their desire to separate the country I love!

[ITHEREONETHATHASNT]

HAHA You are done Bloc!

[butkicker75]

if bloc quebecois only represent quebec why is he running for federal and not doing anything for the other provinces?

[NORTHERNKONFLIKT]

@ledauphinmontreal The British, Irish, Canadian, American, Australian, and New Zealanders all have very similar cultures because of our languages. what you are saying is nothing new. We have similar features, but we also have differences. Its just like how Quebec has a similar culture to France or Wallonia or the French Suisse. There are similarities, but some differences as well.

[Gardenstatehomecomin]

@ledauphinmontreal acctually if you've ever been to western Canada we are difrent from Americans, we are far more Liberal, we eat poutine lol, and there are lots of french outside Québec.

[ManOWar2Red]

@klyde2005 Right English and french gotta protect theirs both culture or this country will slip away from us.