The federal government should be forced to put the preliminary texts of any free trade agreement to a vote in the House of Commons before they're ratified, according to the Bloc Québécois political platform released on Saturday.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he's hoping other parties will agree to a proposed private member's bill that would force the Canadian government to put the preliminary texts of any free trade agreement to a vote at the House of Commons before they could be ratified.
The federal government should be forced to put the preliminary texts of any free trade agreement to a vote in the House of Commons before they're ratified, according to the Bloc Québécois platform released Saturday. The party said it would introduce a private member's bill requesting such a vote, according to the platform, which highlighted the threats posed by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The platform emphasized how those tariffs are specifically targeting Quebec industries like aluminum and aerospace. Asked by the media whether he thought the other political parties would agree to such a bill, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said: "I hope they do.""Last time I checked, Canada was supposed to be a democracy," he said, speaking to reporters in Sherbrooke, Que. "Of course any treaty has to be supported and voted in the parliament. If not, what's the point of having a parliament?"The party would also request that a Quebec delegation, selected by the province, be allowed to represent its interests when it comes to negotiating any free trade agreement, according to the platform. It will also push for the creation of a federal charter on softwood, saying the forestry industry is being attacked by illegal American tariffs. The party wants more Quebec softwood to be used in building and renovations.The platform says it will work with the federal government, the province of Quebec and industry in order to diversify markets for fisheries, noting that 85 per cent of the product is currently exported to the United States. It also suggested companies in Quebec should take advantage of federal employee cuts in the Trump administration to recruit American scientific minds.before the end of this decade by investing in Quebec industry.Refers to sovereignty referendum The Bloc explicitly mentions a referendum on sovereignty in its platform, stating it would work hard to accurately present a portrait of Quebec to the international community and both Quebec and Canada's diplomatic corps, in order to prepare them for that possibility. On housing, the Bloc says it wants to reduce "flipping" in the real estate market by forcing property owners to keep a place they buy for at least two years. It also wants to propose "major" federal help for first-time home buyers who are purchasing a property of "reasonable value." The Bloc platform calls for the creation of a federal charter on softwood. The party wants more Quebec softwood to be used in building and renovations. On health, the party pledged to continue to aim for the federal government to pay 35 per cent of the province's health care costs. It also said it would ask Ottawa to transfer oversight of theMeanwhile, the Bloc would seek to top up old age pension by 10 per cent for 65 to 74 year olds, an issue it had already raised during the election in 2021.and ban the wearing of religious symbols for any federal employees who work in Quebec. It would also replace the daily prayer held before work in the House of Commons begins with a moment of reflection. The platform also calls for anyone being sworn in as a Canadian citizen in Quebec to do so in French, rather than choosing between Canada's two official languages. Any reference to the British monarchy in the citizenship sermon would also be removed.Making "sufficient" knowledge of French obligatory for anyone trying to become a Canadian citizen in Quebec.Reducing the salary of the Governor General to a symbolic $1.Raffy Boudjikanian is a senior reporter with the CBC's Parliamentary Bureau in Ottawa. He has also worked in Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal for the public broadcaster.
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