Canada: Bloc Quebecois MP killed in traffic accident (shouldn't impact Conservative Gov't)

CP via National Post - Canada ^ | Monday August 28, 2006 | Ross Marowits

[GMMAC]

Bloc Quebecois MP killed in traffic accident

Ross Marowits
The Canadian Press
Monday August 28, 2006

MONTREAL -- The Bloc Quebecois has lost one of the MPs who was swept to office 13 years ago when the sovereigntist party became Official Opposition under Lucien Bouchard.

Benoit Sauvageau, 42, was killed Monday in a traffic accident in his Montreal-area riding when his vehicle hit a tow truck on the side of the road.

CREDIT: House of Commons photo
Benoît Sauvageau represents
the Repentigny constituency.

Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe praised Sauvageau as a hard working and determined MP who knew everyone in his riding.

“He was respected not only in the sovereigntist camp but by his adversaries who always recognized him for his honesty and his determination,” Duceppe said in Quebec City.

“I think he was a very good member of Parliament, a very good sovereigntist.”

Sauvageau was elected to the House of Commons in 1993 for the riding of Terrebone in suburban Montreal. He was re-elected with strong majorities in three subsequent elections in the redistricted riding of Repentigny.

Sauvageau was elected during a political wave that landed the sovereigntist party in the unexpected role as members of “Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition.”

In an electoral high-water mark not repeated until 2004, the Bloc won 54 seats in 1993 after securing almost half of all votes cast in Quebec.

Sauvageau’s death leaves the Bloc with 50 seats, until a byelection is held to fill the safe riding, unless the minority Conservative government falls.

Bouchard said Sauvageau was very close to constituents.

“It’s a big loss,” Bouchard told Radio-Canada television.

“For his family there aren’t words to describe their loss. But it’s really a loss for everyone.”

While it’s natural to develop political enemies, Bouchard said Sauvageau was respectful even to his political foes.

“He is a man who was engaged in political fights but he did it correctly, with nobility and idealism and a lot of respect for others, even his adversaries.”

Duceppe was visibly shaken by the news.

“It’s awful,” Duceppe said. “At 42 with four children (daughters) between the ages of five and 15, it’s not right.”

He said Sauvageau was on his way to a caterer at the time of the accident to arrange an event in his riding.

Former Bloc MP Richard Marceau, who counted Sauvageau as a close friend, said he too is devastated by the death.

“It’s a big loss for his family, for Quebec and his riding,” he said.

Bernard Bigras, who sat next to Sauvageau in the Commons, fled his office visibly distraught after being told the news.

“After hearing this sad news he left suddenly with tears in his eyes,” said Richard Filitrault, secretary in Bigras’ constituency office.

Repentigny police said Sauvageau’s vehicle hit the tow truck, which was on the side of the road, before noon hour.

Sauvageau was immediately rushed to the Pierre Le Gardeur hospital with severe injuries, said Sgt. Paul Diamond of Repentigny municipal police.

“His death was unfortunately confirmed about 45 minutes later at the same hospital,” Diamond said.

Police investigators were attempting to determine what happened by analyzing the scene and interviewing witnesses.

“We should know more about the circumstances surrounding the accident during the week.”

Sauvageau was the Bloc’s spokesman on public accounts and the treasury board but Duceppe noted he was also Official Languages critic for the Bloc and defended “the rights of francophones in Canada and Acadians.”

Before his election, Sauvageau was a constitutional history professor at L’Assomption College.

© The Canadian Press 2006

[GMMAC]

With David Emerson’s floor crossing last January & a Liberal in the Speaker’s chair, this seems unlikely to seriously impact the Conservative government's current position vis-a-vis the Parliamentary balance of power.

[GMMAC]

PING!

[george76]

Prayers for the family and friends.

Can you please explain a little more to us non-Canadian what this means for the internal Canadian political situation ?

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[balk]

I heard he had 4 kids. I'm sad for them and his wife.

[GMMAC]

In a nutshell:
Our Conservatives have a minority government meaning they have less seats in Parliament than the combined Opposition Parties.

With the support of the Bloc Quebecois, which is likely afraid to force an election because of Conservative gains in Quebec in Canada's January national general elections, it's mathematically impossible for the Liberals & New Democratic Party (NDP) to combine to defeat the government in a vote in the House of Commons.

All 3 Opposition Parties are comprised all or mostly of socialist vermin but each has a somewhat different agenda.

Currently in Canada it's the ideological right which is doing the political deviding & conquering for a change.

(these days, it's often nail-biting time for conservatives up here but, for now, it sure as hell beats having vile Liberal gangsters running the country!)

[george76]

Thank you.

You explained it well.

It gets confusing sometimes for some of us.

We are very happy with the Conservative gains in Canada. What are the prospects for the near future ?

More conservative seats ?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Prayers to his family and may he rest in peace.

[GMMAC]

Given his hard left Parliamentary voting record, including support for same-sex 'marriage' & virtually anything else contrary to traditional values, no doubt prayers for his peaceful eternal repose are definitely in order.

[GMMAC]

"More conservative seats?"

Currently the Conservatives hold 125 of Parliament's 308 seats.
Thus, an additional 30 are required for any sort of majority and really 35-40 for a comfortable 'working majority'.

Although the msm claims to have new polling data this week showing the Party back at roughly the same level of overall popularity as in the January election, likely it's somewhat higher based upon other polls which show considerably higher support for specific Conservative positions/policies on many issues. (e.g. support for Israel, numerous 'law & order' measures)

While we still have work to do, Stephen Harper's personal popularity continues to rise & is likely ahead of the Party's which will help since, in our elections, many voters are far more influenced by their view of a Party's leader than by its particular local candidate in their area.