[denydenydeny]

boosted support for the separatist Bloc Quebecois in the French-speaking province at the expense of the Liberals.

We can only hope. A Canada without Quebec would be a much, much, much better partner for the USA in the world.

[GMMAC]

To play the devil's advocate, consider this:

Aside from many, many negatives when it comes to Quebec society, there is a qualitative difference between 'Quebec nationalists' (sometimes called 'soft separatists') and the really hard core separatists who are much fewer in number.

Nationalists believe they have a language, history and culture worth defending and act accordingly.
(and a few are even somewhat fiscal conservatives)
As most English Canadians refuse to stand up for their own language, history or culture, they have great difficulty in understanding anyone who does.

Brian Mulroney - for all his other faults - was able to work with many of these people.
The Liberals, with their habitual arrogance and corruption, have totally alienated them and are the direct cause of the very national strife which they claim only they can cure.

Plus, with their fetish for big and over-powering central government, Canada's Liberals are exactly like their 'Rat brethren South of the Border.
As Quebec nationalists fear and oppose this, they are conservatives' natural allies on certain narrow issues relating to same.