Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois (BQ) is a federal political party based in Canada that mainly believes and advocates Quebec can secede from Canada, also known as Quebec sovereignty.[1] The Bloc was created by Members of Parliament (MPs) from the national Progressive Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. They were angry that the Meech Lake Accord could not pass.[2] The party is considered to be centre-left. The leader of the party is currently Yves-François Blanchet.
 | |
| Leader | Yves-François Blanchet |
| President | Yves Perron |
| Split from | Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, Liberal Party of Canada |
| Headquarters | 3750, Boulevard Crémazie Est Suite 502 Montreal, Quebec H2A 1B6 |
| Youth wing | Forum jeunesse du Bloc Québécois |
| Membership | 19,000 |
| Ideology | Left-wing nationalism Quebec sovereigntism Quebec Nationalism Social democracy Regionalism Souverainism Environmentalism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Colors | Light Blue |
| House of Commons (seats in Quebec) | 32 / 78 |
| Senate | 0 / 105 |
History
The Bloc Québécois was founded in 1991 by Lucien Bouchard, who also became its first leader, in order to represent and advocate the Quebec sovereignty movement at the federal level in the Parliament of Canada. The Bloc was always the party with the biggest number of seats in Quebec between 1993 and 2011, and again since 2019. They are usually the second or third biggest party in the House of Commons. In the 2011 federal election, the party won only 4 seats. In the 2019 federal election, the party won 32 seats.[3] In the 2021 federal election, the party won 32 seats in the House of Commons.[4]
Relationship with the Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a provincial political party in Quebec to which it is allied. The Parti Québécois also wants sovereignty for Québec. Although the two political parties are separate organizations, they help each other during elections.
Party leaders
- Lucien Bouchard (1991–1996)
- Gilles Duceppe (1996) temporary
- Michel Gauthier (1996–1997)
- Gilles Duceppe (1997–2011)
- Vivian Barbot (2011) temporary
- Daniel Paillé (2011–2013)
- Mario Beaulieu (2014–2015)
- Gilles Duceppe (2015)
- Rhéal Fortin (2015–2017) temporary
- Martine Ouellet (2017–2018)
- Mario Beaulieu (2018–2019) temporary
- Yves-François Blanchet (since 2019)
Bloc Québécois Media
Lucien Bouchard became founding leader of the Bloc Québécois in 1990.
Gilles Duceppe became the first Bloc MP in 1990; he served as leader from 1997 to 2011.
Results of the 2015 Canadian federal election showing support for Bloc Québécois candidates by riding
Lucien Bouchard at Université de Montréal
Gilles Duceppe, the Leader of the Bloc Québécois.
Former BQ Leader Michel Gauthier
-
Gilles Duceppe, the Leader of the Bloc Québécois.
Papineau Bloc Québécois MP Vivian Barbot
Photo of Daniel Paillé, leader of the Bloc Québécois in the Patriot March on 20 May 2013.
.jpg)
.jpg)
References
- ↑ "Bloc Quebecois could change name as sovereigntist party looks to rebuild". The Canadian Press. Montreal: The Globe and Mail. November 5, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ↑ Gall, Gerald L. (February 7, 2006). "Meech Lake Accord". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ↑ Forrest, Maura (October 22, 2019). "Huge Bloc Québécois win shows a major shift in the province". National Post. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ↑ Jeudy, Lucy (October 6, 2021). "Canadian federal election results in Québec 2021". Statista.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
Other websites
- Official website (in French)
