Bloc leader spells out demands ahead of spring budget, stressing health care

OTTAWA — Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is laying out his demands ahead of the spring budget, with greater health transfers to provinces and more support for seniors at the top of his list.

Blanchet is demanding the Trudeau government provide unconditional funding transfers for health care and child care, and “intensive” support for health-care workers and nursing-home residents.

He also says the budget will have to jump-start battered sectors such as tourism and aviation, and also that relief funds should not go to the oil or nuclear industries.

The Bloc leader says he and finance critic Gabriel Ste-Marie have launched a consultation tour in advance of the minority Liberal government’s first budget in nearly two years.

Blanchet warns that his support for the federal budget will depend on Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s response to Bloc demands.

Any minority government that hopes to avoid triggering an election must garner some opposition backing for the budget.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.

The Canadian Press