Hundreds gathered in Vancouver Saturday to protest the coalition of Liberals and New Democrats which the Bloc Québécois says it will support. (CBC)

B.C.'s senior member of the Conservative government says Canadians need to stand firm against a parliamentary coalition of the Liberals and New Democrats that is being supported by the separatist Bloc Québécois.

"The message is that Canadians do not want to see a separatist coalition. It's a plain and simple message," said International Trade Minister Stockwell Day.

"The coalition does not have the confidence of Canadians. Never in our history has anybody entertained the thought of a coalition that would be controlled by separatists."

He said Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean was correct to prorogue Parliament earlier this week, which stopped a no-confidence vote scheduled for Monday which could have toppled the Harper government.

Conservative MP Stockwell Day says Canadians don't want a 'separatist coalition.' (CBC)

Day said the suspension of Parliament until the end of January will allow Canadians time to assess the country's political situation.

The Okanagan-Coquihalla MP spoke Saturday at a Vancouver rally that drew hundreds of coalition opponents, despite the West Coast rain.

He was joined by Conservative Senator Gerry St. Germaine and a number of Metro Vancouver MPs.

Anti-coalition rallies were held across the country on Saturday, including Calgary, Halifax, Fredericton, and Ottawa, which alone attracted about 3,000 people to Parliament Hill.

The series of rallies against changing the minority government seemed to dwarf gatherings in support of the coalition which were also held on Saturday.

About 3,000 people cheered Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion and NDP Leader Jack Layton in Toronto in sub-zero temperatures, while fewer than 1,000 people listened to Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe in Montreal.

More rallies for both sides are planned for this week.

with files from the Canadian Press