The first question posed by the moderator to Yves-François Blanchet during the debate in English on Thursday evening was not a question.
It was an accusation, an insult to Quebeckers.
How could the organizers pass up a question like this? Who wrote this question?
The response given on Friday by the Debates Broadcasting Group selected by the Leaders’ Debates Committee is not sufficient.
Mr. Blanchet looked shocked when he heard the question. Let’s say it was really a funny way to start the debate.
We have seen since the end of the debate that this question has whipped the Bloc’s troops. They found the bone they had been looking for since the start of the campaign, the identity card.
Practical policy
We must now look at what is in front of us, namely the September 20 election.
Justin Trudeau is not against the idea of the federal government participating in the challenge of Bill 21 in court.
Mr. Blanchet says it takes Bloc members in the House of Commons to protect Bill 21.
But it’s not that easy.
It is not Parliament that will decide whether the federal government will participate in the battle against Bill 21, but the government.
Thus, even with 78 Bloc members in Ottawa on the morning of September 21, if Mr. Trudeau remains in power, the Liberals could challenge Bill 21 and the Bloc will not be able to do anything to stop them.
Thus, as Mr. Blanchet absolutely insists on protecting Bill 21, we can imagine that he hopes that Erin O’Toole will be elected, because he has put in his contract with Quebecers that he was not going to challenge the law. 21.
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