The five major political parties are focused on touring across Quebec ahead of the election – but one of the new parties it setting its sights solely on Montreal.
Balarama Holness launched the campaign for his new provincial political party, Bloc Montreal, on Monday, holding a news conference outside Dawson College.
It's there where he said that he would abolish Bill 96, the controversial language law that would see students in CEGEPs take a required three French courses.
He said unfair to students who've studied so hard in one language to impose a second on them prior to graduation.
As the cornerstone of his campaign, Holness aims to create more fiscal and political autonomy for the Montreal area.
He said that Montreal should have the right to collect 20 per cent of the QST collected in the area. He also says that the city should impose a congestion tax on vehicles entering from outside of Montreal into the city.
Other policies he'd like to see put in place are making public transit free during rush hour, as well as creating a neutral, a carbon neutral city by the year 2040.
Holness is continuing his efforts to implement many of the issues that he brought forth in his municipal election campaign. When asked how that would translate to a provincial level, he defended his positions on making a Montreal-centric party.
“How is it possible that the economic engine of Quebec only have a $6 billion budget with a $200 billion GDP? So the reason why we're focused on this metropolis, and maybe what you're asking for is a constitutional fight to say to the federal government and provincial government that Montreal needs more powers. And this is the cornerstone of our platform. It's the cornerstone of the DNA of our municipal and provincial parties,” he said.
The Bloc Montreal isn't the only fledgling anglophone-centric party in Quebec: the Canadian Party and Quebec led by Colin Standish is also advocating many of the same issues, including abolishing Bill 96.
As for whether these two parties are gaining any traction in the polls, that's yet to be seen.
The election is on Oct. 3.
LISTEN ON CJAD 800 RADIO: Why should you vote for Bloc Montreal? Balarama Holness, Leader of Bloc Montreal
Watch the video above for the full report by CTV Montreal's Ian Wood on Balarama Holness' Bloc Montréal party.
