Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet said there is “no future for oil and gas” in Quebec and “probably everywhere,” two days after his party lost seats in Monday’s Canadian federal election.
Quebec received $13.6 billion in equalization payments from the federal government in the 2024-25 fiscal year, with Alberta’s energy sector being a major contributor.
“Voters gave me a mandate to continue protecting French language and secularity of the state in Quebec… and the fact that there’s no future for oil and gas, at least in Quebec and probably everywhere. And this has to be said and protected,” Blanchet said at a Tuesday press conference.
The Bloc lost nearly a third of its seats in Monday’s election, dropping from 35 to 23 representatives. Blanchet won his seat in the riding of Beloeil-Chambly with 48.3% of votes, ahead of the Liberal candidate who received 34%.
The party maintained some relevance by positioning itself as a “partner” to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government on economic policies.
Flashback: ‘Not Through Our Backyard’: Quebec’s Blanchet Rejects Pipeline Needed by Atlantic Canada
“So Mr. Carney and myself are really on the same wavelength in terms of the economy,” Blanchet said, adding they agree “it’s urgent at this time to reduce the huge gap in productivity between Canada and the United States.”
Blanchet threatened unspecified “weapons” to prevent pipelines from crossing Quebec’s borders. “I have a brand new weapon to do that,” he vaguely claimed.
Blanchet suggested Quebec deserved special consideration from Carney’s government due to electoral support.
“Well, I think Mark Carney had very good support in Quebec… and a lot of Quebecers voted on the basis of the economy,” Blanchet said. “I’m really looking forward to our ability to announce economic projects in Quebec.”
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