Bloc has no power in Ottawa, Harper says
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 | 8:24 AM ET
CBC News
Speaking in Quebec, Harper said the Bloc has been unable to address the "fiscal imbalance" (the gap between Ottawa's budget surplus, and the shortfall provinces face to finance programs). He said there was no fiscal imbalance when the Bloc first came to Ottawa, and they have done nothing to prevent it.
"Hundreds of questions they put in the House did not change the decisions made by [then finance minister] Paul Martin to cut transfers from the provinces," Harper said.
"The Bloc has been there for 16 years, If it was there for another 116 years it could never move forward any important issue. It could never resolve a single problem or pass a single law."
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Tuesday.
"The Bloc's policy is the policy of impotence. It's the policy of the empty chair and that's why Quebecers need seats around the table of a new Conservative government."
Harper accused Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe of wanting Quebecers to be "powerless spectators."
"Quebec's place is not sitting in the stands. Quebec's place is on the ice."
Harper said a Conservative government would be stronger if it could include an elected cabinet minister from Quebec.
However, he refused to say if he would appoint a non-elected person to cabinet.
"This is a purely hypothetical question," he told reporters Tuesday after speaking in Levis, across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City.
Harper was campaigning in two ridings near Quebec City, and is expected to return to the province for a third time later in the week.
