Balarama Holness' Bloc Montreal party officially authorized by Quebec
"We want to represent the distinct culture, economy and life of Montreal," Holness told the Montreal Gazette on Tuesday.
Author of the article:
Linda Gyulai • Montreal GazettePublishing date: Jun 07, 2022 • 43 minutes ago •
2 minute read
Quebec now has a Bloc Montreal party running in the fall provincial election.
On Tuesday, the Quebec chief electoral officer granted authorization to the party that was founded by former Montreal mayoral candidate Balarama Holness.
“We want to represent the distinct culture, economy and life of Montreal,” he said in an interview with the Montreal Gazette on Tuesday after receiving notification that his party is now official.
Holness announced in April he was seeking authorization for a provincial party to represent Greater Montreal in time for the provincial election scheduled for Oct. 3. The Liberal Party of Quebec, he said at the time, had taken anglophone and ethnocultural votes for granted for too long.
The formation was to be called Mouvement Québec, reminiscent of the name of his municipal party, Mouvement Montréal. However, Holness said on Tuesday the name “didn't reflect our mission, which is to represent Montrealers at the National Assembly.”
Bloc Montreal better reflects the party's mission, he added.
“The mission is to represent Montrealers and people in the greater Montreal region at the National Assembly,” Holness said.
“We recognize that Quebec is distinct within Canada. But Montreal is also distinct within Quebec.”
Holness said Bloc Montreal plans to run 30 to 35 candidates in Montreal and off-island in the fall election. Having official party status means the formation can raise money and focus on recruiting candidates, he said.
The news comes as half of the Quebec Liberal party caucus has announced it won't be running again this fall. Former finance minister Carlos Leitão, the MNA for Robert-Baldwin, and Kathleen Weil, the MNA for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, became the 12th and 13th Liberals in the past few days to announce they won't seek re-election.
In April, responding to Holness's announcement of the new party, Quebec Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade said her party remains the best bet for voters because it represents all Quebecers, including anglophones and allophones.
However, Holness said the Greater Montreal Area doesn't receive its fair share of funding for municipalities and services even though it accounts for half of the province's Gross Domestic Product. Montreal alone represents one third of the GDP.
“We see a shortage of family doctors, there are severe issues with support for our seniors, particularly in long-term care homes, there's a lack of leisure recreation infrastructure,” he said.
“All of these things need to be better voiced at the National Assembly and Montrealers need a voice at the National Assembly.”
The former Alouettes player also said his proposal in the 2021 municipal election to seek bilingual city-state status for Montreal is still on his agenda.
“We want to be the party for not this election but for the long term,” he said. “This is not what people would call a protest party, but a party that's going to be in Montreal for the next 150 years, 200 years.”
In the 2021 municipal election, Holness's Mouvement Montréal obtained seven per cent of the vote and elected no candidates. Holness said the party intends to run candidates in the next municipal election in 2025.
lgyulai@postmedia.com
Author of the article:
Linda Gyulai • Montreal GazettePublishing date: Jun 07, 2022 • 43 minutes ago •
2 minute read
Quebec now has a Bloc Montreal party running in the fall provincial election.
On Tuesday, the Quebec chief electoral officer granted authorization to the party that was founded by former Montreal mayoral candidate Balarama Holness.
“We want to represent the distinct culture, economy and life of Montreal,” he said in an interview with the Montreal Gazette on Tuesday after receiving notification that his party is now official.
Holness announced in April he was seeking authorization for a provincial party to represent Greater Montreal in time for the provincial election scheduled for Oct. 3. The Liberal Party of Quebec, he said at the time, had taken anglophone and ethnocultural votes for granted for too long.
The formation was to be called Mouvement Québec, reminiscent of the name of his municipal party, Mouvement Montréal. However, Holness said on Tuesday the name “didn't reflect our mission, which is to represent Montrealers at the National Assembly.”
Bloc Montreal better reflects the party's mission, he added.
“The mission is to represent Montrealers and people in the greater Montreal region at the National Assembly,” Holness said.
“We recognize that Quebec is distinct within Canada. But Montreal is also distinct within Quebec.”
Holness said Bloc Montreal plans to run 30 to 35 candidates in Montreal and off-island in the fall election. Having official party status means the formation can raise money and focus on recruiting candidates, he said.
The news comes as half of the Quebec Liberal party caucus has announced it won't be running again this fall. Former finance minister Carlos Leitão, the MNA for Robert-Baldwin, and Kathleen Weil, the MNA for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, became the 12th and 13th Liberals in the past few days to announce they won't seek re-election.
In April, responding to Holness's announcement of the new party, Quebec Liberal Leader Dominique Anglade said her party remains the best bet for voters because it represents all Quebecers, including anglophones and allophones.
However, Holness said the Greater Montreal Area doesn't receive its fair share of funding for municipalities and services even though it accounts for half of the province's Gross Domestic Product. Montreal alone represents one third of the GDP.
“We see a shortage of family doctors, there are severe issues with support for our seniors, particularly in long-term care homes, there's a lack of leisure recreation infrastructure,” he said.
“All of these things need to be better voiced at the National Assembly and Montrealers need a voice at the National Assembly.”
The former Alouettes player also said his proposal in the 2021 municipal election to seek bilingual city-state status for Montreal is still on his agenda.
“We want to be the party for not this election but for the long term,” he said. “This is not what people would call a protest party, but a party that's going to be in Montreal for the next 150 years, 200 years.”
In the 2021 municipal election, Holness's Mouvement Montréal obtained seven per cent of the vote and elected no candidates. Holness said the party intends to run candidates in the next municipal election in 2025.
lgyulai@postmedia.com
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Archive
2022
June
Balarama Holness' Bloc Montreal party officially authorized by QuebecBalarama Holness introduces new provincial party: Bloc MontrealHolness to run in NDG in provincial electionBalarama Holness embarks on Notre-Dame-de-GrâceBloc Montreal announces two more candidates for provincial voteBloc Montreal announces D'Arcy-McGee, Westmount-Saint-Louis candidatesBalarama Holness rips into Quebec Liberal Party for Bill 96 flip-flopping, Bonjour-HiHolness: “NDG is the frontline in the fight for a multicultural, multilingual Montreal”Allison Hanes: Anglos have choices now — do the Liberals deserve a comeuppance?Barbara Kay: Montreal needs to make a run for it — before the doors to the rest of the world close“François Legault and Dominique Anglade oppose multiculturalism and bilingualism”“In Quebec, it should be understood that society is committed to equity, inclusion"
August
Bloc Montreal adds three candidates, outlines health-care platformBloc Montreal presents candidates & immigration policyBloc Montreal announces candidates, immigration policyBloc Montreal's Holness calls for more powers, cut of QST for MontrealBalarama Holness launches election campaign under new Bloc Montreal partyA party Proposing A $5 Fee For Anyone Driving To Montreal Island Who Doesn't Live ThereBloc Montreal unveils election platformAt campaign launch, Bloc Montreal pledges to repeal Bill 96Holness wants to tax entry to the island of Montreal for non-residents
September
Balarama Holness leads 'positive rebellion' for a seat at the tableBalarama Holness says secularism, language laws affect Montreal more than rest of province in CTV interviewBloc Montreal calls out use of N-word in leaders' debate: “Only in Quebec”Bloc Montreal pledges to give a voice to 'neglected' Montrealers at the National AssemblyBloc Montreal candidates urge Concordia students to voteInterview with Heidi Small from Bloc MontrealBloc Montreal: Do the Liberals deserve the anglo vote given their past support of Bill 96?
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