Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said Liberal Leader Mark Carney of “doesn’t give a damn” about the needs of Quebec, accusing him of not “liking” the people who live there.
“He doesn’t like us so much. He will never say that he does not like us,” he told reporters Monday.
Blanchet urged Quebeckers to vote for the Bloc in the upcoming election to ensure that Carney doesn’t form a majority government that would not protect the province’s culture, language and economy.
“I don’t feel the love. I don’t feel interest for Quebec. I don’t feel interest for the differences. I don’t feel interest for the language. I don’t feel interest for the culture. I don’t feel interest for anything which is Quebec,” said. Blanchet.
“He doesn’t give a damn.”
Blanchet’s comments were in response to being asked about what he made of Carney’s stance towards Quebec.
“It is a problem for him to be forced to try and speak French. He doesn’t like it and doesn’t really understand, and then he will have to come and debate against two guys (Blanchet and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre) who speak French pretty well. Still improving,” joked Blanchet.
The Bloc Québécois have been steadily gaining momentum in the campaign, surging up from four ridings on March 30 to 17 as of April 10, according to the latest Nanos poll.
Blanchet is annoyed by Carney’s poor comprehension of the French language, bothered by the fact that he “doesn’t pronounce the words lumber,” “aluminum,” “fisheries,” and “aerospace,” all of which are essential sectors in Quebec.
Carney has not yet responded to Blanchet’s criticism.
The Bloc Québécois leader has gone after Carney before, saying that he was “hiding from the media,” following Carney’s decision to skip out on the French TVA debate.
Carney initially mocked the idea that he was scared to debate in French, asking a reporter “why not?” regarding whether he would be in attendance on March 24th.
However, he ultimately backed out at the eleventh hour, resulting in TVA cancelling the debate entirely
“The guy who wants to be the boss of Quebec, like the other candidates has to come to Quebec, answer questions which are not necessarily easy questions, but someone who wants to have an easy way, he will stay home,” said Blanchet at the time.
Blanchet has also accused Carney of stealing his platforms from the Conservatives.
“Someone who is a candidate can answer tough questions from the media, and not just copy the conservative policies, and try to hide,” he said.