The Bloc's election platform has always been a bit of a strange animal. The party knows it will never take power because it exists only in one province, so its policies are almost solely of an opposition bent.

Back in 2006, the Bloc released its platform a few days into the campaign with great fanfare.

This time, reporters could simply pick it up at the media table while the party's electoral general council was meeting. What they came away with is a 232-page document full of detailed economic proposals and other demands — and amounting to over $40 billion in transfers to Quebec over several years.

Among them:

—transfer to Quebec all that province's GST revenues and tax points for health, post-secondary education and social services;

—exempt Quebec from Canadian multiculturalism policies;

—allow Quebec to create its own provincial CRTC to regulate communications;

—grant greater financial support to artists;

—protect the environment, reduce greenhouse gases and stop aid to the oil industry;

—help Quebec industry especially forestry and aerospace;

—withdraw entirely from the field of education, a provincial responsibility;

—allow Quebec to continue with its own individual approach to dealing with juvenile crime.

The Bloc estimates its proposals would cost $40.1 billion over three years, well within the $49.1-billion surplus they project over the same time period.

—Nancy Wood