Latest news with #YvesFrancoisBlanchet
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
U.S. court blocking tariffs gives Canada ‘a better position' to negotiate with Trump: Bloc leader
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said Thursday that a U.S. court's decision to overturn some of the Trump tariffs is good for Canada's trade negotiations. But he noted it doesn't affect tariffs on Canadian metals.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Blanchet says he thinks Carney sees himself as the 'CEO of Canada'
Watch Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet reacts to King Charles's speech, the NDP's influence, and Mark Carney's potential role as a CEO-style Prime Minister.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Separatists say Alberta's culture is rooted in traditional values. Many say those values don't define them
Social Sharing Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said earlier this month that if Alberta were to separate from Canada, it would first have to define itself as a nation with a distinct culture. "I am not certain that oil and gas qualifies to define a culture," Blanchet quipped at a media conference. Alberta separatists are trying to make the case that Alberta, like Quebec, does have a culture that's distinct from the rest of Canada — one rooted in traditional conservative values. But recent polling, and many people living in Alberta, paint a more complicated picture. Many Albertans feel the separatists' definition of Alberta culture leaves them out of the conversation, and one researcher says that could be driving people away from the movement. Republican Party of Alberta leader Cameron Davies, who calls himself an Alberta nationalist, says Albertans prize family values and freedom from government intervention. He says Alberta's culture is driven by risk-taking, entrepreneurial spirit and resilience, dating back to its early settlers. He says Alberta conservatives are distinct from Eastern Canada, but acknowledges they have "a lot in common" with neighbouring Saskatchewan. "I would challenge you that a Doug Ford conservative is not a conservative from Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. We have very little in common," Davies told CBC News. Davies also takes many cultural positions similar to U.S. Republicans, such as eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies and taking education about sexual and gender diversity out of schools, and says he believes a "vast majority" of Albertans share these views. The Alberta Prosperity Project, the group driving a petition to force a separation referendum, has a section on its website outlining similar "cultural and identity factors" for leaving Canada. The party lists bilingualism among its cultural grievances, as well as, "The Federal Government's support of wokeness, cancel culture, critical race theory, the rewriting of history, and the tearing down of historical monuments." Albertans 'build community for themselves' But plenty of Albertans don't fall in line with those values. Rowan Morris, a transgender man living in Alberta's oil capital Fort McMurray, knows all about the risk-taking, entrepreneurial Alberta spirit, and mythos around building a better life through hard work and sacrifice. His parents moved their family to Fort McMurray from Nova Scotia when he was 14, and his dad took a job in the oilfield. He says that "sacrifice for good" is something that's inherently Albertan. "That also applies to newcomers to Canada. Also applies to Indigenous folks on this territory. It also applies to queer and trans people," he said. "What I see in Fort McMurray is people who move here have no friends or family, and build a community for themselves." That's about as far as his agreements with the separatists go. Morris says the talk of "family values" is not inclusive of all families, and the crusade against "wokeness" leaves many Albertans behind. He also finds the idea of separating from Canada disrespectful to the authority of Indigenous governance systems and values. "When we are contorting freedom into being something restrictive or something avoidant or punitive, that isn't truly freedom," he said. "I think the values that are Albertan, or what is Albertan culture, is a willingness to explore and a willingness to embrace the new and to challenge yourself. And those are things that I do see echoed in the root of what folks are talking about on this other side," he said, referring to the separatists, and adding that he feels their anger is misdirected. Morris believes Alberta does have a distinct culture, but he says it's part of a broader pan-Canadian one, rather than a separate national identity. Separatists are 'projecting their own values': researcher In many ways, Morris is not an outlier in today's Alberta. Jared Wesley, a political scientist at the University of Alberta who studies the province's political culture with his Common Ground research team, says the ideals expressed by separatist groups don't represent the average Albertan in 2025. "They're absolutely dead wrong, and they're projecting their own values on the rest of Alberta society," he said. Wesley and his team have interviewed thousands of Albertans. In an April 2024 article for Policy Options, a magazine from the Montreal-based Institute for Research on Public Policy, he noted that they found Albertans are, by and large, socially progressive and fiscally conservative — or, more specifically, tax-averse. "Alberta is one of those unique places right now where the broader political culture, who we see ourselves to be, just does not align with public opinion," he told CBC News. In surveying thousands of Alberta residents, researchers found that they often have a "distorted view" of their own political culture, believing their fellow citizens to be significantly more conservative than they actually are. The researchers noted that ultimately, those surveyed had an image of the "average Albertan" that doesn't match the actual demographics of the province. WATCH | Albertans discuss sovereignty: Alberta separatism is in the spotlight. Not everyone is sold on sovereignty 5 days ago Duration 8:11 Alberta is increasingly ethnically diverse. The province's 2021 census found that more than a quarter of Albertans identify as racialized, and noted that Alberta had the third highest population proportion of racialized groups in Canada behind Ontario and B.C. Additionally, just under seven per cent identify as Indigenous, which is the fourth largest proportion among provinces, behind Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador. Wesley's research has found that Albertans identify strongly with both their province and their country. Even among separatists he spoke with, Wesley says fewer than half feel Alberta has its own distinct culture within Canada. In the survey, when Albertans were asked to select all the political identifications that applied to them, most chose at least two, with the most common being "progressive" and "conservative." And while the federal Conservatives won 63.5 per cent of Alberta's popular vote in April's federal election, the provincial NDP still captured 44 per cent of the popular vote in the 2023 provincial race, suggesting Albertans are anything but a conservative monolith. Wesley says he doesn't believe the leaders of the separatist movement truly think of Alberta that way, either. "The political strategy is to paint yourself as being far bigger than what you actually are, or your ideas as being far more popular," he said. "I mean, that's at the heart of politics." What polling reveals Recent Angus Reid polling suggests 19 per cent of Albertans would "definitely" vote to leave Canada if it were put to a referendum, while another 17 per cent are "leaning toward" wanting to leave. A majority, 52 per cent, said they would "definitely" vote to stay, with eight per cent "leaning toward" voting to stay. By perpetuating a narrow, traditional idea of what it means to be Albertan, Wesley says separatists are turning off a large portion of the province's population. He says the separatist movement may end up being a "flashpoint" where Albertans realize this disconnect between their public image and their true values. "A march towards the referendum is going to have people questioning, 'Who are we as Albertans?' " he said. "And I'm not sure the separatists are prepared for the answer that Albertans are going to give them." The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) released its own polling last week that pushes back against separatist narratives. The survey, done by polling firm Environics in April, found Albertans overwhelmingly support causes like raising the minimum wage, rent controls and price controls, as well as the full implementation of universal child care, pharmacare and dental care. In a statement, AFL president Gil McGowan said the poll was initially for in-house use, but the union decided to release it to counteract the public focus on separatism. "This polling is a rebuttal to right-wing stereotypes of Albertans," McGowan said. Young Conservative wants to bridge gap with separatists Some Conservatives in the province are also pushing back against separatism. Ahmed Ibrahim, 21, former president of the University of Lethbridge campus conservative club, spoke with CBC News over the phone while working in a canola field just northeast of Lethbridge, in southern Alberta. Ibrahim was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, and came to Alberta in 2023 to work in agriculture. "I came here for the Alberta advantage," he said, noting that the province has an opportunity to grow, and he feels that "growth is something everyone deserves." Still, Ibrahim says he doesn't view Alberta as a separate nation, and believes strongly in the idea and principle of Canada. Though separatists are a minority in the Conservative movement, he notes that "they have the right to be listened to."
Globe and Mail
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Carney makes debut in Parliament with seats reflecting changed political map
Prime Minister Mark Carney took his seat in the House of Commons for the first time Monday as the work of the 45th Parliament began with the election of a new Speaker ahead of the highly anticipated Speech from the Throne laying out the Liberal government's priorities. King Charles III will deliver the address from the Senate chamber on Tuesday morning in a reassertion of Canadian sovereignty at a time of geopolitical realignments. It's only the third time a monarch has opened a session of Parliament. Normally, it is carried out by the governor-general. This session follows an election which returned a minority Liberal government for the third time in a row, though the makeup of the House of Commons is different from the last session. With five more seats to account for population growth, it's tighter quarters for 343 MPs, and seat assignments in the chamber reveal a changed political map. The Opposition Conservatives now occupy two dozen more seats – but missing is party leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost his own riding. The New Democrats, once plentiful enough to form the Official Opposition, are now reduced to seven MPs tucked into the far corner of the chamber. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, whose party lost 11 seats, noted Monday he's also now much farther back from the Speaker and will have to speak up. Meanwhile, on the front bench of Mr. Carney's new government is a mix of cabinet ministers from former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government and some new faces – including Mr. Carney. Though he became prime minister upon winning Liberal leadership in March, he didn't have a seat until winning the riding of Nepean on April 28. In Mr. Carney's maiden remarks Monday, delivered to welcome newly elected Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, he referenced his rookie status. 'I have much to learn from the members of this great house,' he said. 'I will make mistakes. I have no doubt that you will call them out for good reason.' The new Prime Minister got a taste of some of the cut-and-thrust of Parliament when Conservative Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer lightly ribbed his rivals. Mr. Scheer noted some Liberal MPs may now vote for what they were recently voting against, a likely reference to Mr. Carney's cancellation of the consumer carbon price, once a marquee Liberal policy. Mr. Carney didn't laugh at the joke. He has promised to govern with seriousness and speed, and what that looks like is expected to be outlined on Tuesday. In a statement marking the King's arrival in Canada, Mr. Carney said the Speech from the Throne will reflect a government elected 'to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build the strongest economy in the G7, to bring down the cost of living, and to keep communities safe.' Opinion: The arrival of King Charles is a powerful and symbolic reminder of Canada's sovereignty The government is expected to move ahead quickly on two particular items: a personal tax cut and removing barriers to interprovincial trade. Later this week, Mr. Carney will travel to Saskatoon ahead of a meeting with provincial premiers and territorial leaders June 2. He is governing with a minority: The Liberals have 169 seats to the Conservatives' 144, the Bloc's 22 and the NDP's seven. The Greens hold one. To pass legislation, Mr. Carney will need other parties on side. Interim NDP leader Don Davies told reporters Monday that despite his party's reduced size, it has power. 'I think that there's, as in every minority Parliament, a real opportunity for us to push and promote progressive policies and hold this government to account in a way that you can't do in a majority Parliament,' he said. The Conservatives said Sunday their party is prepared to support the government to find ways to end the trade dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump and speed up natural resource development, but will also oppose the Liberals where necessary. 'When we act as a government in waiting, we do it to provide the hope that things can and will get better,' Mr. Poilievre said.
Globe and Mail
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Bloc to ask court to overturn election outcome in riding that Liberals won by single vote
The Bloc Québécois is going to court to seek a new election in a Montreal-area riding where the Liberal candidate won by one vote. Elections Canada says the outcome – the result of a judicial recount – is final, but Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet says lawyers for the party will go to the province's Superior Court to overturn it. 'I will not comment on the legal process per se because I am not a lawyer,' Mr. Blanchet told a news conference Thursday on Parliament Hill. 'We will initiate a process to ask the court to order a new election to be held in the riding of Terrebonne as quickly as possible.' The Liberals have 170 seats in the House of Commons – just two shy of a majority – to the Conservatives' 143. The Bloc has 22, the NDP seven and the Green Party one. Mr. Blanchet acknowledged that the case may eventually end up in the Supreme Court of Canada. At issue is the situation in the riding of Terrebonne, where Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste defeated Bloc candidate Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné by a single vote. A Bloc voter in the riding said her mail-in ballot was returned to her on May 2, four days after the election, apparently because of an incorrect postal code on the envelope's preprinted address. Had her vote been counted among the more than 60,000 cast ballots, the race might have ended in a tie. Elections Canada spokesperson Matthew McKenna said in a statement that, in the event of a tie, the Chief Electoral Officer would have informed the Speaker of the House of Commons and a new election would have been held. Asked about the Bloc's legal plans, Mr. McKenna said Thursday that the results in Terrebonne have been validated and the recount is final. However, he said, if the legal effort to contest the election is successful, the result becomes null and void and a by-election must take place. 'Elections Canada's role is to provide courts with all necessary information in a completely neutral way,' he said. Ms. Sinclair-Desgagné, who attended the Bloc's news conference, said the situation has been an emotional roller coaster. 'We went from being ahead to losing by one vote,' said the former economic adviser to the City of Montreal, who was initially elected in 2021 and was seeking a second term. 'This is an issue that goes beyond party politics. It's an issue of trust in our democratic institutions,' she told journalists. 'It's important, in our case, to go right as far as we can to ensure that citizens of Terrebonne have a legitimate member of Parliament.' Mr. Blanchet said he did not want to aggravate the unusual situation by suggesting the electoral system should be changed. 'We're talking about a specific case where the citizens have a right to be properly represented in a case of this irregularity, meaning a new election is necessary. That will come from an order of the court.' There are three more judicial recounts scheduled, though Mr. McKenna said there is still no timeline for completing them. Such exercises occur when there is a difference of less than 0.1 per cent between the leading candidate and the second-place candidate. Recounts are under way in the Toronto-area riding of Milton East-Halton Hills South, where Liberal candidate Kristina Tesser Derksen leads Conservative candidate Parm Gill by 29 votes, and in the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of Terra Nova-The Peninsulas, where Liberal Anthony Germain leads Conservative candidate Jonathan Rowe by just 12 votes. A third, in the riding of Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore, is not scheduled to begin until next Tuesday. There, Conservative challenger Kathy Borrelli leads Liberal incumbent Irek Kusmierczyk by 77 votes.
