Ouellet takes helm of BQ, pledges to fight Energy East
New leader acclaimed on weekend, will continue to sit as independent MNA
Martine Ouellet was crowned leader of the Bloc Québécois at a rally in Montreal Saturday.
Ouellet was elected by acclamation after the only other potential candidate, Félix Pinel, withdrew Monday lacking the necessary support to complete his leadership application. Ouellet extended a hand to Pinel in her speech.
The new leader wasted no time going after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom she called a “friend of the oil industry.” She also promised to make opposition to the Energy East pipeline a priority, saying it was “the biggest threat to potable water in Quebec.”
Ouellet called on sovereigntists to rally behind her to protect the “green jewel” that is Quebec and put an end to tax havens and the loss of corporate headquarters from the province.
“Our adversaries say we’re closed, but it’s exactly the opposite,” she said. “It’s because we’re open to the world that we want to become a country.”
The former Parti Québécois MNA became an independent to remain in the National Assembly until the end of her term in October, 2018. She plans to run for the Bloc in the 2019 federal election, with a slate of candidates equally balanced between men and women.
In an interview with Presse Canadienne, Bloc caucus president Louis Plamondon said he is happy that a woman will lead the party for the first time. He would have liked a leadership race, but no “solid” candidate ran against Ouellet.
Plamondon says Ouellet has “plenty of time” to tour the province to elevate her profile and restructure the party.
Regarding her decision to remain an MNA, Plamondon sees no disadvantage and says she is “respecting the code of ethics.”
Plamondon said he is “capable of living with that, even if certain people are annoyed by the situation.”
Not everyone is happy with Ouellet’s decision to stay on as an MNA.
Speaking in Drummondville, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said Ouellet’s decision “does not look good.”
“National Assembly funds will be used to support federal political activities,” Couillard said, adding there would be a storm of controversy if one of his own MNAs had done the same thing.