STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

BQ calls on Liberals to avoid pandemic election, despite voting non-confidence

May 12, 2021 | 4:43 PM

OTTAWA — After repeatedly voting non-confidence in the minority Liberal government, the Bloc Quebecois is now calling on the government to do everything possible to avoid an election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet will use an opposition day Thursday to debate a motion calling on the House of Commons to declare that it would be irresponsible to hold an election during the health crisis.

The motion further declares that it is the government’s responsibility to do everything possible to prevent voters being called to the polls as long as the pandemic persists.

Less than three weeks ago, Bloc MPs, along with the Conservatives, voted against the Liberals’ budget.

Had the NDP also voted against the budget, that would have constituted a vote of non-confidence in the government, triggering an election.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says opposition parties have voted non-confidence 14 times in the past few months.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2021.

The Canadian Press