Bloc Quebecois (BQ) launched a "permanent campaign for independence" lasting at least until the upcoming Canadian federal election, to be held on 19 October. The party took started the campaign the weekend before the Quebec National Day, June 24, to carry out door-to-door visits in Rimouski to explain the benefits of independence to citizens there.

The Bloc's campaign will revolve around eight major reasons why, according to the party, Quebecers should decide for independence. Self-government, economic prosperity, quality of life, inclusion of newcomers, and opening Quebec to the world are several of those reasons.

In the 2011 Canadian election, the Bloc Quebecois won 4 of Quebec's 75 seats. This was a disastrous result for the pro-independence party, which had won 49 seats in 2008.

The Bloc now wants to regain a more prominent role in Canada's House of Commons, especially with the prospect that the three major Canadian parties (Conservatives, Liberals and New Democrats) get a very similar share of votes and none of them secures an absolute majority.

A few weeks ago, opinions polls suggested the Bloc was heading for an ever worse result than in 2008: the pro-independence party was expected to get 13% to 16% of votes, which most likely would have left the party with even fewer seats than four years ago.

But after the Bloc decided to re-run Gilles Duceppe as party list for the October election, in just one month voting intention to the Bloc climbed in just one month to 25% or 26%. This would still place the Bloc below the 2011 winners in Quebec, the New Democrat Party,which are now forecasted to secure some 32% to 36% of the votes. Still, the New Democrats would win significantly less share of votes than in 2011, when they got 43%.

(Image: Gilles Duceppe. / Photo: Louperivois)

[[FitxaQuebec]]