What Quebec wants from a Liberal minority government and a resurgent Bloc

The province's premier and the mayor of Quebec's biggest city celebrated the outcome of Monday's election for very different reasons both signalling it could help further their own goals.

It remains to be seen, however, how a Liberal minority government will play out in Quebec, where theNDPwas reduced toa single seat while theBloc Qubcoisstormed back to a position of influence.

On Tuesday, Premier Franois Legaultoffered muted congratulations to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before stressing that the revival of the Bloc, which more than tripled its seat count,shows the growing importance of Quebec nationalism rather than a renewed interest in sovereignty.

"I think it's important to recognize that different societies, they want to protect what they are," he told reporters in Quebec City.

"That was part of the message Quebecers sent last night."

Legault said he was pleased, too, that Trudeau "heard the message" from Quebecers after losing five seats in the province, ending up with 35 of the 78 Quebec ridings.

"I hope in the next months to work with Mr. Trudeau and his team to advance the interests of Quebecers, and also those of Canadians," he said.

During the campaign, Legault laid out several demands, including granting Quebec further controls over immigration, language and tax collection.

In particular, the premier said Tuesday,the result shows the importance of respecting Quebec's jurisdiction on Bill 21, the province's religious symbols law.

"The message is clear. If you want more support next time, supportBill 21," said Legault.

Advancing Montreal's interests

At a news conference in Montreal, Mayor Valrie Planteoutlined a very different set of priorities.

Shesaid she sees the election results as an opportunity to push forward issues such as mobility, housing and transit that matter to Montrealers.

"I always work with people. My goal is about making sure Montreal continues to evolve, continues to be this powerful engine within the province of Quebec."

While Bloc's baby blue colours much of the electoral map outside the city, the Liberals took 16 of 18 seats of Montreal, giving the party an even stronger hold on the island.

Both the Liberals and NDP, which now only hold one seat in Montreal but could hold sway in the minority parliament,said they would support Plante's Pink line Metroproject.

Her hopes for another Metro line have so far been met with resistance fromLegault's CAQ government which, like the Bloc, is more popular in areas outside the urban centre.

Plante said she intends to seize the opportunity to discuss the new Metro line with the Liberals, as well as other public transit projects that would serve the northern and eastern parts of the city.

Plante also said she wants Quebec and Ottawa to hash out an agreement to fund moresocial and affordable housing. Her administration has pledged tobuild 12,000 affordable social housing units in the city by 2021.

Plantesaid she looksforward to meeting Bloc Qubcois Leader Yves-Franois Blanchet "to see how we can better connect on some issues."

She wouldn't elaborate on which ones, however, saying she will give him a chance to celebrate first.

A fine line

While both Plante and Legault said they viewed the result positively, it remains to be seen whether Quebec and Montrealwill benefit from the Liberals' slim victory.

Concordia political science Prof. Guy Lachapelle said Trudeau will need to "rebuild the confidence of Quebec voters."

That means working with the Bloc, he said.

"I think Mr. Blanchet is a pragmatic person," he said. "I think he wantsParliament to work,and he wants Parliament to work in the benefit of Quebec."

• Watch: Jonathan Montpetit and Kate McKenna on what the results mean for Quebec

But Lachapellecautioned the Trudeau governmentwill need to be careful not to further alienate Alberta and Saskatchewan, which are now a sea of Conservative blue afterMonday's election.

"There's a give-and-take here," he said, adding that the "strong regional identities" in the election result will "have to be translated into political realities" in the next Parliament.

Speaking Tuesday, Blanchetreiterated his goal: defend the province's interests in Ottawa.

"We are not responsibleto make Canada work. But we have a responsibilityto make Parliament work," he said.

Watch Legaultexplain how Bill 21 affected the outcome of the election:

Legault says Quebec voters weighed secularism against sovereignty

5 years ago

Duration 0:23

With Quebec now largely split between the Liberals and the Bloc Qubcois, Premier Franois Legault says Quebecers had to either prioritize their support of secularism or their support of federalism.