http://www.ctv.ca//servlet/ArticleN...c_060115/20060115?s_name=election2006&no_ads=
Tory growth will keep Bloc down, says Lapierre
Growing support for the Conservatives in the province of Quebec is actually "good news," says Transport Minister Jean Lapierre.
Speaking on CTV's Question Period Sunday, Lapierre -- Martin's Quebec lieutenant -- said that anything that will prevent the Bloc from gaining enough support to bring in another referendum on sovereignty is good.
"This was the first place where the Bloc wanted to have 50 per cent plus one, and wanted every federalist to disappear from the scene," he said.
"At least, that is not happening. And this is the first good news. And the rest, we'll fight it out."
Lapierre also said pollsters are telling the Liberals that there has been a transfer of support from the Bloc to the Tory party.
"And so, we could be right in the middle and gain seats instead of losing some," Lapierre said.
Conservative campaign co-chair Michael Fortier disputes that math, telling Question Period that votes are coming from "both sides."
Fortier said he's very pleased with the response the party is getting Quebec. "It feels great to be a federalist again in Quebec."
Recent polls suggest the Liberals will lose seats in Quebec -- they had 21 going into the election. The lowest number of Quebec seats the Liberals have ever won is 13, but this time it is a three-way race.
In an effort to pump up Liberal support in Quebec, Liberal Leader Paul Martin pushed through stronghold ridings in and around Montreal this weekend.
However, an event in Laval Sunday morning was attended mainly by journalists.
Later in the day, Martin made an appearance in Jeanne-Le Ber -- the riding held by Heritage Minister Liza Frulla. There were barely 40 people in the room.
Frulla only won her riding by 72 votes in the last election, and there are fears she won't be able to hold onto it this time. She admits it's hard.
"It was very difficult (in 2004) and it's still very hard, very hard here on the ground," she told reporters, complaining that unnamed opponents were resorting to "dirty tricks".
Lapierre is also facing a tough fight from Conservative candidate Daniel Fournier in the riding of Outremont. But Lapierre says he's not worried.
"If Mr. Fournier is taking votes away from the Bloc, then that's helping me," said Lapierre.
Meanwhile, Martin is denying he or his party is in trouble. But he became visibly frustrated with reporters at his news conference in Montreal when asked about Liberal woes, rather than this announcement on cities.
"To be honest, I have some difficulty understanding the context of your question. I have just made a very positive announcement," he said.
Tory growth will keep Bloc down, says Lapierre
Growing support for the Conservatives in the province of Quebec is actually "good news," says Transport Minister Jean Lapierre.
Speaking on CTV's Question Period Sunday, Lapierre -- Martin's Quebec lieutenant -- said that anything that will prevent the Bloc from gaining enough support to bring in another referendum on sovereignty is good.
"This was the first place where the Bloc wanted to have 50 per cent plus one, and wanted every federalist to disappear from the scene," he said.
"At least, that is not happening. And this is the first good news. And the rest, we'll fight it out."
Lapierre also said pollsters are telling the Liberals that there has been a transfer of support from the Bloc to the Tory party.
"And so, we could be right in the middle and gain seats instead of losing some," Lapierre said.
Conservative campaign co-chair Michael Fortier disputes that math, telling Question Period that votes are coming from "both sides."
Fortier said he's very pleased with the response the party is getting Quebec. "It feels great to be a federalist again in Quebec."
Recent polls suggest the Liberals will lose seats in Quebec -- they had 21 going into the election. The lowest number of Quebec seats the Liberals have ever won is 13, but this time it is a three-way race.
In an effort to pump up Liberal support in Quebec, Liberal Leader Paul Martin pushed through stronghold ridings in and around Montreal this weekend.
However, an event in Laval Sunday morning was attended mainly by journalists.
Later in the day, Martin made an appearance in Jeanne-Le Ber -- the riding held by Heritage Minister Liza Frulla. There were barely 40 people in the room.
Frulla only won her riding by 72 votes in the last election, and there are fears she won't be able to hold onto it this time. She admits it's hard.
"It was very difficult (in 2004) and it's still very hard, very hard here on the ground," she told reporters, complaining that unnamed opponents were resorting to "dirty tricks".
Lapierre is also facing a tough fight from Conservative candidate Daniel Fournier in the riding of Outremont. But Lapierre says he's not worried.
"If Mr. Fournier is taking votes away from the Bloc, then that's helping me," said Lapierre.
Meanwhile, Martin is denying he or his party is in trouble. But he became visibly frustrated with reporters at his news conference in Montreal when asked about Liberal woes, rather than this announcement on cities.
"To be honest, I have some difficulty understanding the context of your question. I have just made a very positive announcement," he said.