Duceppe Plans to Force an Election

It looks like it's time to pull out those old 'My Canada Includes Quebec' bumperstickers. BQ leader Gilles Duceppe has set a goal of realizing Quebec sovereignty by 2015.

He also said on Sunday that he wants to force an early federal election over Harper's flip-flopping on the fiscal imbalance issue. The fact that Danny Williams, Conservative premier of Nfld/Labrador, is also dissatisfied with Harper's approach is quite telling as well and shows that this issue goes well beyond Quebecois frustration.

Meanwhile, Duceppe said he is prepared to force an election early next year if Harper's government fails to deliver on its promise to correct the so-called fiscal imbalance in the next federal budget.

The sovereigntist leader wants Ottawa to provide at least $3.9 billion to Quebec this year to make up for what he says are funding shortfalls.

"I think the Bloc Quebecois is getting ready for a spring election no matter what. They don't expect the Harper government to meet the commitment or the demands laid out in a report about four, five years ago to settle the whole question of the so-called fiscal imbalance. That report called for $3.9 billion to Quebec in the next budget. Harper is not expected to meet that commitment," The Globe and Mail's Rheal Seguin told CTV's Canada AM.

"If that's the case, the Bloc over the weekend was getting ready for that election -- preparing, raising money, setting out its fundraising campaign as well as setting the stage for an election. They say they'll be ready for it as early as December."

Duceppe's threat came as a new poll suggested that support for the Conservatives in Quebec is quickly deteriorating.

A Decima survey released to The Canadian Press over the weekend reported that support for the Bloc was at 45 per cent of Quebec voters -- slightly higher than on election day.

We'll see how the other oppositions react to that prospect. The Liberals, of course, will have very little time to properly organize under their new leader who will (finally) be chosen in early December. Minority governments only last an average of 18 months and I had predicted that we might see an election as early as next summer considering that fact but it the Liberals may decide that that timetable isn't quite optimum. It might be more feasible from their perspective to wait until fall 2007.

As for the Quebec sovereignty issue, I still remember holding my breath the nite of the last referendum. My family is originally from Quebec (I was born out west) and that's where all of my long lost relatives, with roots back to 1634 in that province, still live so my Canada definitely does include Quebec. The talk of 2015 as a goal for separation whips up sentiments of wanting to hang onto la belle provence once again for dear life.

The challenges involved in dealing with the issues around the desire of so many to separate are not insurmountable, but they will not be met sufficiently by this Conservative government.