Face of Nation : In a room full of Quebec supporters, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer spent the first five minutes of his speech criticizing Justin Trudeau’s record. Scheer was met with applause while he railed against Trudeau’s deficit budgets, his failure to live up to promises, and his ethics violations. Then he turned his attention to another target: the Bloc Québécois.
“It’s not the Bloc that’s going to replace Justin Trudeau, that’s clear. It’s not the Bloc that will give you more money in your pocket. Quebecers can only count on us,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who the leader is. The Bloc will always be powerless spectators.”
His speech, given last week at a rally in Laval, Que., could be a sign of things to come as political parties jostle for Quebec’s 78 ridings. Some races are shaping up to be tight, with Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québécois and NDP candidates all in play.
Scheer’s road to government doesn’t necessarily run through Quebec, but a source within his party says the Conservatives are targeting strategic seats in the province, believing that they can capitalize on success the party has enjoyed in and around Quebec City.
While the election has not been called yet, early pre-campaigning indicates the party is looking to attract sovereigntist voters who might otherwise vote Bloc. Lawn signs specifically prepared for Quebec feature a picture of the candidate — and a background that includes the Quebec flag.
Outside of Quebec, candidate signs don’t have any flag at all. In 2015, Conservative Quebec lawn signs featured both the Quebec flag and the Canadian flag. The Bloc Québécois currently holds 10 seats in Quebec. The Conservative party holds 11, mostly in the Quebec City region.
