Donald Trump has deprived Quebec sovereigntists of their strongest argument KONRAD YAKABUSKI

Donald Trump has deprived Quebec sovereigntists of their strongest argument

KONRAD YAKABUSKI

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-donald-trump-has-deprived-quebec-sovereigntists-of-their-strongest/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky

"SNIP.............

As recently as early January, the Bloc was riding high in the polls. Quebeckers had soured on the federal Liberals under Justin Trudeau while having never warmed to the Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre. Trade woes were far from top of mind as debates over language, immigration and secularism continued to dominate Quebec politics.

Had a federal election been held then, the Bloc would have swept more than 40 of Quebec’s 78 seats in Parliament and likely formed the official opposition in Ottawa. Now, the sovereigntist party has fallen into a distant second place behind the resurgent Liberals.

A Léger poll released on Wednesday found support for the Liberals under their new Leader, Mark Carney, at 36 per cent in Quebec. The Bloc and Tories were neck-and-neck at 25 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively, according to the online poll of 1,007 Quebeckers. Bloc support is down 11 percentage points from December. Support for Quebec sovereignty, meanwhile, has dropped to 29 per cent from 37 per cent.

Of course, no one knows how long the Liberal bounce will last. Almost twice as many Quebeckers see Mr. Carney rather than Mr. Poilievre as the best leader to defend Canada against Mr. Trump. The former Bank of Canada governor’s economic credentials remain his strong suit as Quebeckers focus as much as other Canadians on their economic security.

...............SNIP"