Gilles Duceppe sees no contradiction in his quest to persuade federalist voters to choose the Bloc on election day, while attacking Stephen Harper for courting Quebec nationalists.

Harper told La Presse the Conservatives' door is open to nationalists, a position he told the paper is perfectly normal given the Québéecois form a nation.

Duceppe says it would be surprising to hear a party leader say, 'Whatever you do, don't vote for us.'

At the same time he challenges Harper's record on issues including fiscal imbalance (which the Bloc maintains has not been resolved), and the naming of a Quebec representative to Canada's delegation at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), rather than granting Quebec it's own seat, which UN rules don't permit.

Duceppe has appealed to voters considering the Liberals and the NDP to choose a Bloc candidate instead, to lessen Harper's chances of making gains in Quebec and forming a minority government.

He says there's no contradiction, because Quebec sovereignty won't be debated in the House of Commons.

— Tim Duboyce