what can you tell me about bloc quebecois?

Bill McBlueState

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Mon May-31-04 10:07 AM
Original message

what can you tell me about bloc quebecois?

I was in Montreal for the first time over the weekend. Apparently there's an election coming up soon because there were three or more signs on every block. All of them, regardless of party, featured a large picture of the candidate and a fairly bland slogan.

On the Bloc Quebecois posters, there was a picture of this guy:

Something about that smirk brings the word "sketchy" to mind. What can Canadian DUers tell me about the Bloc Quebecois, and the dude on the signs? I know they're basically the Quebec separatist party, but that's it.

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Lefty48197

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Mon May-31-04 10:15 AM
Response to Original message

1. They are the separatist party and I think that says it all.

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Astarho

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Mon May-31-04 10:21 AM
Response to Original message

2. They're the French separatist party

Actually I think they're one of the most pro-separtist voices from the Parti Quebecois. Don't know who that guy is, but I was up there about ten years ago when Lucien Buchard (sp?) was the spokesman of the party.

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Spazito

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Mon May-31-04 10:26 AM
Response to Reply #2

5. He is Gilles Duceppe

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Spazito

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Mon May-31-04 10:24 AM
Response to Original message

3. The BQ is a party that concerns itself solely with the well-being...

of Quebec with their goal being separatism for Quebec. Because Quebec is allocated many seats, based on population, the BQ earns a place in the Parliament. We have a multi-party system so we have representation in our Parliament from: the Liberal party, the faux Conservative party, the New Democratic Party and the BQ. This election is very interesting because if the BQ gain enough seats from the Liberals and there is a minority government elected, the BQ could hold the "balance of power".

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Feanorcurufinwe

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Mon May-31-04 10:26 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. But how do they stand on other issues? left/right/center? nt

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Spazito

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Mon May-31-04 10:31 AM
Response to Reply #4

7. I don't think they can be classified as any one of those...

they vote solely on what is best for Quebec so they veer all over the place, it is dependent on what the bill is and how it affects their goal of separation.

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Minstrel Boy

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Mon May-31-04 10:27 AM
Response to Original message

6. The leader's Gilles Duceppe. Apart from being separatist, the Bloc

is largely on the left on most social issues. I'd call it Social Democratic.

It was on the wane, but an unpopular provincial Liberal government has helped fuel a backlash against the federal Liberals. Polling says it has the support of about half of Quebec voters, and if that holds they could win as many as 50 of Quebec's 75 seats.

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Spazito

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Mon May-31-04 10:33 AM
Response to Original message

8. Here is a link to the PQ and it's goal, "sovereignty"

http://www.rocler.qc.ca/turp/eng/Road/Road.htm

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Waverley_Hills_Hiker

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Mon May-31-04 10:52 AM
Response to Reply #8

9. so there are TWO Quebe partys...

The Bloc Quebecois and the PQ?

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Minstrel Boy

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Mon May-31-04 10:57 AM
Response to Reply #9

10. Yes, but the PQ is a provincial party, and

Edited on Mon May-31-04 10:58 AM by Minstrel Boy

the BQ a federal party. They don't compete against each other.

There are some other, smaller parties peculiar to Quebec, too (like the Action Democratique, which runs provincially) as well, of course, as the other national parties (NDP and Conservatives).

Lots of interesting dynamics at play in Quebec politics.

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PatrickS

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Mon May-31-04 11:25 AM
Response to Original message

11. They're a completely useless political party!

It always amazes me that people in Quebec actually keep voting for this useless party.

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