Bloc Attempts to Entangle NDP in Constitutional Debate

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

As the parliamentary session reconvened on Monday, the Bloc Quebecois tried to entangle the New Democrats in another constitutional battle as they attempted to debate on a private member’s bill, designed to revoke the Clarity Act. Former intergovernmental affairs minister, Stephane Dion, was the original Liberal sponsor of the bill. While Dion defended the law which enables the province’s separation from the Canadian federation, the Conservatives claimed to have no interest to take part in the debate.

Quebec lieutenant of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Christian Paradi, stated that “those are old constitutional squabbles that we don’t want to hear about.” He explained that “for us, we’re talking about the economy. It’s clear that is the priority of Quebecers. And this is again a shallow attempt of the Bloc to revive this (constitutional debate).” Even though there is almost no chance of the bill being adopted in Parliament, Bloc Leader Daniel Paille, was seen smiling on the response of NDP to the proposal. Paille stated that “what is not so clear here today is the position of the NDP.”

He allegedly stated that Dion’s legislation must be abolished in respect to the Parliament’s 2006 recognition of the Quebecois nation. Otherwise, Paille said the existing situation allows federalist votes to be worth more than votes for Quebec independence. The New Democrats, who have clear majority in Quebec, have declared to oppose the Bloc bill and shown intent to present its own legislation for replacing the Clarity Act with a bill corresponding to a policy adopted by the NDP in 2005.