Duceppe doubts budget will deliver for Quebec
Bloc leader launches 10-day tour of province ahead of parliamentary session
Last Updated: Monday, January 12, 2009 | 5:03 PM ET
CBC News
Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe, front, speaks to reporters with the party's chief organizer Mario Laframboise. (CBC) Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe says he doubts the upcoming federal budget will meet the needs of Quebecers.
On Monday, Duceppe launched a 10-city, campaign-like tour of the province, starting in Montreal.
Duceppe told Quebecers to be ready for anything — including an election — when Parliament resumes at the end of the month and Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveils his new budget.
"We'll see with the days. We'll see what Mr. Harper will come with, and we'll be ready for any eventuality: a Harper government, a coalition government or an election," said Duceppe.
In December, the prime minister dodged a confidence vote by suspending Parliament. It is set to resume Jan. 26 with the presentation of the budget the following day.
Duceppe said he would support the budget if it responds to the needs of Quebec, but he doubts it will. If the budget fails, Duceppe said the coalition government is still the best answer for Canada during the current economic crisis.
Poll shows support for coalition continues in Quebec
A recent poll shows a majority of Quebecers share Duceppe's opinion, although that's not the case in the rest of Canada.
A Nanos Research survey for the Canadian Press asked Canadians what should be done if the Conservative government's budget is defeated and the government falls.
The survey found that 62 per cent of Quebecers would want the governor general to give the Liberals and the New Democrats a chance to form a coalition government, propped up by the Bloc Québécois.
However, a majority of westerners and a plurality of respondents everywhere else favoured an immediate election call instead. In Western Canada, 65 per cent of respondents indicated a desire for an election.
"We have to get prepared for an election if an election happens," said Duceppe.
The telephone poll of 1,000 Canadians was conducted Jan.3–7 and is considered accurate within 3.1 percentage points 19 times out of 20.
Duceppe's tour will continue in Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières on Tuesday; Quebec City, Chicoutimi and Roberval on Wednesday; Rivière-du-Loup and Gatineau on Thursday; and Laval on Friday.
With files from The Canadian Press
