QUEBEC CITY — As Canadians from coast to coast mourned the
lack of not less than 11 lives in a automobile assault in Vancouver
Sunday morning, Bloc Québécois candidates awaited their chief’s go to with singing and dancing in a festive environment.
The scene befell on the Bloc Québécois’ Quebec—Centre driving headquarters, the place chief Yves-François Blanchet was about to fulfill with candidates and volunteers on this battleground the place they hope to win the seat of former Liberal cupboard minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
Led by Montmorency—Charlevoix candidate Caroline Desbiens, who sang conventional Quebec songs, a dozen Quebec volunteers and candidates, together with Duclos’s opponent, Simon Bérubé, clapped and danced, some becoming a member of the singer.
“C’est décidé, le bleu du Québec nous appelle. Ooohhh c’est décidé, le bleu du Québec nous appelle,” sang Desbiens in one of many songs, which could be translated as “It’s determined, the blue of Quebec is looking us. Ooohhh it’s determined, the blue of Quebec is looking us”.
This morning, in Quebec Metropolis. Ready for his or her chief @yfblanchet , @BlocQuebecois candidates are very festive. pic.twitter.com/qr5Y95u54Q
– Antoine Trépanier (@atreps) April 27, 2025
They then enthusiastically welcomed Blanchet in his ultimate lap earlier than election day. The room was crammed with dozens of individuals, the vast majority of whom didn’t take part within the singing and dancing.
“It could be horrible, horrible, for anyone to indicate in no matter method that our individuals lack compassion for individuals who endure as a result of we’re the tip of a marketing campaign,” mentioned Blanchet when requested about his individuals’s behaviour.
A 30-year-old man is believed to have been the motive force of a black SUV that drove eastward right into a pedestrian-only space alongside forty third Avenue close to Fraser Road in Vancouver throughout Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver.
The authorities mentioned the automobile drove via a crowd the place a whole bunch of individuals had been attending the pageant.
Blanchet’s every day remarks had been solely concerning the Vancouver assault. Exceptionally, he made his assertion in each official languages.
“(I need) to handle my honest, heartfelt condolences to the individuals of British Columbia, members of households and pals of those that died, and likewise to the colleagues which had been far too near this drama,” he mentioned, visibly emotional.
Responding to questions from the English-language media concerning the behaviour of his individuals and whether or not he discovered them respectful within the context, Blanchet mentioned he was comfortable to see his individuals enthusiastic on the finish of a marketing campaign in a driving that the Bloc might win Monday night.
“It does completely not imply that they lack compassion for individuals who endure,” he mentioned.
Questioned if that type of behaviour had been in one other a part of the nation whereas a tragedy of comparable proportion had occurred in Quebec, Blanchet mentioned that “we’d really feel shut and compassionate concerning the individuals of British Columbia, however in fact we really feel nearer to subsequent door right here.”
Political events and leaders had been deeply shaken on Sunday morning, as their schedules had been modified on the final minute following the assault.
Demise toll in Vancouver ‘automobile ramming assault’ rises to 11 as events recalibrate marketing campaign plans
It’s not the case for the Bloc Québécois. The marketing campaign is continuing as common.
Blanchet mentioned he had not thought-about altering his schedule, for instance, to incorporate a go to to a Filipino group, as a result of he doesn’t “fake to characterize” and “don’t provide to characterize particularly the individuals of British Columbia”.
“(It) doesn’t stop me from having felt all of the ache that comes with such a state of affairs,” he mentioned.
Blanchet rightfully underlined that different reporters have requested him questions on points apart from what occurred in British Columbia and that he was entitled “to react and act on different issues than the drama in British Columbia.”
No francophone reporters have requested concerning the environment.
In British Columbia, one other gesture of horrible violence in a group who got here to reside in peace there.
Our sympathies to family members of the victims.
An examination of conscience is important when individuals sink into murderous insanity.
For what?
The right way to warn? … pic.twitter.com/A01q6qQDJm
-Yves-F. Blanchet 🎗⚜️ (@yfblanchet) April 27, 2025
Blanchet is campaigning all day from Quebec Metropolis to Montreal’s area, stopping in 4 ridings alongside the way in which.
The Vancouver tragedy resonated in Quebec, the place there’s a vibrant Filipino group.
“The truck assault at a pageant in Vancouver is devastating. My ideas are with the households of the victims and with your entire Filipino and Vancouver group,” wrote Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante on social media.
“I’m deeply saddened by the assault at a pageant in Vancouver. My ideas are with the victims and their family members. Quebec is with you,” additionally wrote Premier François Legault.
The tragedy has impacted the final full day of the federal election marketing campaign because the Liberal Occasion cancelled huge rallies in Calgary and Richmond.
Chief Mark Carney is scheduled to seem at a meet-and-greet in Saskatoon and Edmonton. Marketing campaign officers are weighing with the authorities in BC about whether or not a cease in that province is acceptable.
In the meantime, Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre made an impromptu go to to a Filipino church.
Nationwide Publish
atrepanier@postmedia.com
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