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MAGOG, Que. — In response to plunging stock markets and growing economic uncertainty, Parliament needs to be recalled as soon as possible after the Oct. 14 election to debate emergency measures to deal with the crisis, says Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
“We need concrete measures as soon as possible,” Mr. Duceppe said. “We would be ready to sit in Parliament. It could be done rapidly.”
In no uncertain terms, Mr. Duceppe said it was a cynical move by Conservative Leader Stephen Harper to call an election knowing all too well that a crisis in the financial markets was brewing on the horizon.
“One of the reasons for calling this snap election was to avoid facing a difficult economic situation. Well, now the economy is catching up with him a lot sooner than he anticipated. He wanted to avoid his responsibilities,” the Bloc Leader said. “Instead of being in an election campaign, we could be sitting in Parliament debating these issues and acting immediately.”
Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe arrives at a radio station for an interview in Montreal on Oct. 6. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)
Mr. Harper will unveil his election platform on Tuesday and Mr. Duceppe noted that the Conservatives have waited until the final days before the vote to tell Canadians where they stand on the crucial economic issues that have come to dominate the campaign.
The Bloc Leader argued that Mr. Harper has a responsibility to reassure voters that he will abandon his laissez-faire economic policies, such as an eventual deregulation of the banking system, that were responsible for the United-States led crisis in the international financial market. He must outline the type of government interventions needed to absorb the impact the economic downturn in the United States will have in Quebec and Canada, the Bloc Leader said.
“He [Mr. Harper] has a responsibility to tell voters what he plans to do. It would be incredible if there is nothing in his platform that he will finally unveil tomorrow,” Mr. Duceppe said. ‘It is still the economic laissez-faire of Georges W. Bush.”
Mr. Duceppe reiterated that immediate measures were needed to help the manufacturing and forestry sectors deal with months of hardship that have resulted in massive lay-offs. He called for reimbursable tax credits to encourage research and development as well as intensive labour training programs for laid-off workers and massive government investments in municipal infrastructure projects.
As for small investors, Mr. Duceppe said he didn't believe it was necessary to increase insurance on bank deposits above the current $100,000 limit. He acknowledged that that the Canadian banking system was better protected in Canada than in the United States which he added underscored to need to maintain current regulations of Canadian banks.
“The government has a role to play including a well regulated system. That is what ensures greater stability,” he said.
While campaigning in the Eastern Townships on Monday, Mr. Duceppe expressed confidence that his party will win back seats lost in the 2006 election. The Bloc Leader was in the region to consolidate support for the incumbent party candidate in Brome-Missisquoi, Christian Ouellet, who was fighting off a push by former Liberal MP Denis Paradis to win back the riding.
On Tuesday Mr. Duceppe will be in Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie region before heading to Quebec City the following day where the Bloc has set their sights on winning back three of the seats lost to the Conservatives in 2006.
