Delegates at the Bloc Québécois convention in Montreal have overwhelmingly reaffirmed their support for leader Gilles Duceppe.

He received backing from 96.8 per cent of delegates who took part in the confidence vote on Sunday. That's the highest level of support any federal leader has received from their party in recent history.

"Thank you everyone, that touches me right in the heart," Duceppe said after hearing the results.

Gilles Duceppe

The topics up for debate at the weekend convention varied from immigration and environmental policy to how any future sovereignty referendum question should be worded, and whether an independent Quebec should have its own army.

The issue of a separate armed forces spurred the most debate, with some delegates arguing they wouldn't need more than a national guard, while others wanted a full army and navy, complete with battleships and submarines.

In the end, delegates voted to support an army for an independent Quebec, but to leave details of its makeup to a future government.

Duceppe, who supported the motion, said it's only logical that an independent country have its own military. He said it would be used to help in times of disaster, to maintain public order when necessary, and even go to war if needed.

Although the next federal election isn't expected before April, the Bloc also used the convention to launch its pre-election campaign.

Using the title "Je Me Souviens" – Quebec's slogan "I Remember" – the Bloc will launch ads to remind voters of the sponsorship scandal. The ads will show expensive golf balls and other items identified as wasteful by the auditor general's report into the now defunct sponsorship program.

Support for the Bloc in Quebec surged after the report came out because of anger over the misuse of funds.