No concessions to the Quebec nation

Like Stephen Harper, Michael Ignatieff prides himself on having recognized the Quebec nation yet neither of them has put their words into action.

JUST EMPTY WORDS
Sure they have recognized the Quebec nation but that doesn’t mean a thing! It is not enough to recognize the Quebec nation and then to ignore all our differences and choices!

“To recognize Quebec – and Aboriginal peoples – as nations within the fabric of Canada is not to make some new concession.” – Michael Ignatieff, September 1, 2006

“Quebeckers walk around with this fantasy of how different they are, but they are just North Americans who speak French... They take the minor difference and magnify it.” – Michael Ignatieff, Globe and Mail, April 2, 1998

BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS: STANDING UP for Quebec
As the only party in Ottawa that defends the interests of the Quebec nation, the Bloc Québécois is demanding concrete measures:

• Respect for the French language as Quebec’s official language!
• Giving Quebec full control over its telecommunications!
• An immigration policy that reflects Quebec’s values and needs!

Opposed to Bill 101

Michael Ignatieff and Stephen Harper both claim that they are open to Quebec but at the slightest opportunity they demonstrate the opposite through their actions.

On June 3, all Liberal and Conservative MPs rose in the House to vote against the Bloc Québécois bill that would have made Bill 101 applicable to Quebec enterprises governed by the Canada Labour Code.

As for Ignatieff and Harper, they did not bother to show up for the vote. Their absence says a lot about their so-called openness!!

BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS: STANDING UP for Quebec
As the only party in Ottawa that defends the values and interests of the Quebec nation, the Bloc Québécois is calling for amendments to federal legislation to specifically recognize French as the official and common language of Quebec.

Working for Big Oil

For years federal policies have been geared to the oil industry. Not only are these policies harmful to the environment, they also increase Quebec’s oil dependency.

AND WHAT ABOUT MICHAEL IGNATIEFF?
What are Michael Ignatieff’s Liberals doing to help reduce our oil dependency? Absolutely nothing. They don’t dare tell Quebeckers that they support the oil sands industry as much as Harper’s government does!

“The stupidest thing you can do (is) to run against an industry (oil sands) that is providing employment for hundreds of thousands of Canadians. We provide more oil to the United States than Saudi Arabia. That changes everything.” – Michael Ignatieff, January 21, 2009, HEC Montréal, as reported in the Toronto Star, January 22, 2009

BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS: STANDING UP for Quebec
As the only party in Ottawa that defends the values and interests of the Quebec nation, the Bloc Québécois is putting forward concrete measures to help us make the transition to the green economy. They include:

• A gradual shift away from petroleum-based products in homes, businesses and factories;
• Fighting fuel consumption in intercity transport;
• Gradual decrease in the percentage of oil in fuel.

Taking away from Montreal and giving to Toronto

The Conservative government wants to create a federal securities regulator in Toronto. Ignatieff’s Liberals support this idea. Quebec opposes such a single body because:

• The current system works;
• The move would strip Quebec of yet another power.

“It is totally unacceptable for the federal government to stubbornly insist on creating a national securities commission. The passport system works very well and there is no reason to replace it.” – Françoise Bertrand, President and CEO, Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), January 27, 2009

Under Michael Ignatieff’s leadership, the Liberals voted against a Bloc motion that would have protected Quebec from the Conservatives’ plans, as the members of Quebec’s National Assembly unanimously demanded.

BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS: STANDING UP for Quebec
As the only party in Ottawa that defends the values and interests of the Quebec nation, the Bloc Québécois is demanding that Quebec have jurisdiction over securities regulation within its borders.

Imposing Canada’s approach to multiculturalism on Quebec

We already know that Stephen Harper staunchly defends the Canadian model of multiculturalism.

Michael Ignatieff’s Liberals, for their part, have not shown any flexibility on integration policy. In 2008, they voted AGAINST Quebec’s traditional position by opposing a Bloc Québécois bill intended to make Quebec exempt from the Multiculturalism Act.

QUEBEC ADVOCATES AN INTERCULTURAL APPROACH
In Quebec, we refuse to fragment society based on ethnic origin. We are in favour of cohesiveness, sharing and integration! Quebec’s approach is based on its values and needs; it is an intercultural approach.

“Canada’s approach to multiculturalism has been a huge failure. No society has successfully applied a multicultural system without ultimately degenerating into permanent conflicts. In the case of Quebec, the path to follow is even clearer. As the only Francophone enclave in North America, Quebec cannot under any circumstances adopt multiculturalism as an ideology.” – Julius Grey, June 17, 2008

BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS: STANDING UP for Quebec
As the only party in Ottawa that defends the values and interests of the Quebec nation, the Bloc Québécois is seeking protection for Quebec by giving it the right to apply a policy of integration that is suited to its values and needs.

Harper and Ignatieff on PST: double standards

Quebec was the first to harmonize its sales tax. On April 29th, 2009, a Bloc Québécois motion demanding a compensation for the PST harmonization was unanimously adopted by the House of Commons. Yet, Stephen Harper refuses to negotiate in good faith and is even trying to impose new restrictions.

However, billions of dollars will be provided to Ontario and British Columbia, as was the Maritimes when they obtained nearly 1 billion dollars in 1997.

What are Michael Ignatieff’s Liberals doing to fight this injustice? Absolutely nothing. Not a single Liberal MP challenged the Harper government in the House of Commons. Michael Ignatieff refuses to clearly state his position on this issue.

BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS: STANDING UP for Quebec
The Bloc Québécois however takes its duty seriously. It moved a motion, similar to one moved in the National Assembly, calling for the federal government to compensate Quebec by providing the $2.6 billion it is due, no strings attached!

A mere pittance to Quebec’s forestry and manufacturing sector

The Harper government has provided billions of dollars in assistance to Ontario’s auto industry, but a mere pittance to Quebec’s forestry and manufacturing sectors.

IGNATIEFF, HARPER’S ACCOMPLICE
By voting for the Conservative budget in 2009, Michael Ignatieff’s Liberals have become the Harper government’s accomplices in providing “everything for Ontario”.

BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS: STANDING UP for Quebec
As the only party in Ottawa that defends the values and interests of the Quebec nation, the Bloc Québécois is putting forward a $7 billion plan to help the forestry and manufacturing sectors through the crisis.