Just some thinking today about where our parliament might be heading. In a polarized situation such as the Canadian parliament, it would not take the transfer of many seats to upset the liberals and transfer the largest number of seats—but not a majority—to the conservatives. That thought leads us to some interesting considerations. What if, for example, the only party in the commons with a large enough number of seats (other than the liberals) to be able to create a voting majority for the conservatives was the Bloc Québécois? Could there be a deal struck? Would Pierre Poilievre make a deal with the Devil?
You have to admit that Yves-François Blanchet and his fellow Bloc separatists love being the trouble makers. They have no other purpose in the House of Commons. They will say that the purpose is to ensure that Quebec always gets its share-or more.
But recently, on the issue of foreign influence on elections, the Bloc has been working hand-in-glove with Poilievre and the conservatives—all the more to embarrass Trudeau and his liberals. Blanchet and his colleagues could not be further away from any foreign influence problems but once trouble-makers, always trouble-makers.
I would hardly put it past Poilievre to be willing to make a deal with Blanchet. Believe or not, Poilievre would love to get off the hook on his position on climate change and energy policy. The only seats where his change of position might mean trouble are in Alberta but to lose a few seats in Alberta and gain ten to twenty in Ontario and Quebec would be worth it. One of the things that Poilievre has probably noticed in his life in politics is that not many voters really worry about your policy positions that do not affect them directly.
Besides, supporting the conservatives comes easily for Quebec premier François Legault. He already showed that stripe in the 2021 federal election. Poilievre’s offer of hands-off Quebec and his repeated promises of a laissez-faire federal government is right in Legault’s wheel house.
It is likely that the only action by the liberals that could really screw up Poilievre’s plans is Mr. Trudeau’s resignation and replacement in the next two years.
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