They used to say you can't win a majority government in Canada without Quebec. Not anymore. Stephen Harper's Conservatives last month not only secured a majority without conquering the province ... they did it while sustaining losses there. Guest host Bernard St. Laurent examines the Harper Conservatives' failing relationship with the Quebec electorate - and speaks to a long-time party insider who says the election has left Quebec Conservative Party members feeling abandoned.

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Today's guest host was Bernard St. Laurent in Montreal.

Part One of The Current

Satire

It's Friday June 3rd.

A new poll finds that a majority of Canadians don't believe in corporate tax cuts or buying F-35 fighter jets, two major pieces of the Conservative government's plan.

Currently, I guess those same Canadians also don't believe in actually voting.

This is the Current.

Harper in Quebec

It used to be if you wanted to form a majority government in Canada, you needed to win Quebec. Well, after last month's election results that's clearly not the case anymore. The Conservatives won a majority of ridings across the country. But in Quebec, they dropped from 11 to 5 seats.

Today's Throne Speech will outline the Prime Minister's priorities for this new session of Parliament. Many Quebecers feel Mr. Harper has abandoned them and that includes members of the Prime Minister's own party.

Peter White is a longtime Quebec Conservative. He's President of the Brome Missisquoi Conservative Association. He was also Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. And he joined Bernie in our Montreal studio. Manon Cornellier is a columnist with Le Devoir. She was in Ottawa this morning. And David Staples is the City columnist for the Edmonton Journal.

Related Links:

• Disillusioned Quebec Tories in no partying mood before Conservative convention By Jennifer Ditchburn - The Canadian Press
• Quebec voice in new Harper cabinet muted by low numbers By Heather Scoffield - The Canadian Press
• Harper has finally figured out a way to deal with Quebec in a fair but forceful manner By David Staples - Edmonton Journal
• Quebec will challenge Harper's Senate reform bill in the courts By John Ibbitson and Rhèal Sèguin - Globe and Mail
• Quebec demands to keep 24 per cent of Commons seats - and nothing less
  By Martin Ouellet - The Canadian Press

Other segments from today's show:

• Sweat Lodge (Documentary)
• E.coli Outbreak