[LINK] Philippe Authier in the National Post on the problems of the Bloc Québécois

[rfmcdonald]

Philippe Authier writes about the problems of the Bloc.

Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe[, a]fter watching his party virtually wiped off the electoral map in 2011 — dropping from 47 MPs to two as the New Democrats grabbed the spoils — [has] come out of retirement looking for redemption.

He’s convinced the Bloc has a future, arguing that what happened in 2011 is a case of fickle yet pragmatic Quebecers indulging in strategic voting to get more out of the Canadian experience rather than a rejection Bloc ideas or him.

Plus, as he pointed out this week, the last time Quebecers went to the polls their minds were filled with the “Bon Jack” factor, a reference to the affection for former NDP leader Jack Layton who managed to woo Quebecers into forsaking the Bloc.

“The person who was responsible for us losing many ridings was not (current leader) Thomas Mulcair,” Duceppe said kicking off his campaign Sunday. “It was (the late) Jack Layton.”

Still, as another round of the Battle for Quebec kicks into gear leading to the Oct. 19 federal election, the Bloc has a long way to go to redeem itself while the NDP still appears to have the wind in its sails.

If anything, the Bloc has made itself even less appealing since the last election — a factor linked to language hardliner Mario Beaulieu.