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The Bloc Quebecois aim is for Quebec to become a sovereign nation. Most of the policies and issues that are put forward are tied to an independent Quebec, being the master of its own destiny in all matters that are now being shared by both the provincial and federal government.
The Bloc views Sovereignty as a necessity. And the party believes its mission is to promote the values of the citizens of Quebec within the Federal Parliament until Quebec becomes an independent country.
Health care
- Create an independent health-care system, run by Quebec
- Make health prevention a priority
- Maintain universal health care
- Ottawa must correct the fiscal imbalance between the Quebec government and the federal government via a massive fiscal transfer from Ottawa to Quebec
Same sex marriage
- Majority of Bloc Quebecois representatives support same sex marriage
- Gilles Duceppe favors a free vote regarding same sex legislation
Defence
- Parliament should vote on whether to send troops to zones of conflicts, war and others
- The primary role of the Canadian Army should be peacekeeping missions
Marijuana
- Favors decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana
- Impose fines for possession, no criminal record
- Implement a drug prevention/awareness program
Municipalities
- Allocate 1 per cent of Federal Govt. spending ( $ 2 billion per year) to social/affordable housing
Crime
- Promote rehabilitation of young offenders and reject the " Loi sur les jeunes contrevenants" imposed by Ottawa
Gun registry
- The Bloc favors maintaining the gun registry program but also wants public inquiry into the costs overruns
Democratic Reform
- Promote sovereignty and create a country called Quebec
- Government institutions should be of non-religious nature with no religious affiliation
- The state has to have a substantial presence in society and be a partner with all citizens
Government accountability
- Be an accountable, transparent and honest government
Taxes
- Recover billions of dollars paid to Ottawa due to having two levels of government in place duplicating many services
- Enable Quebeckers (Quebecois) to choose in terms of taxation priorities
- Impose a surtax on large oil company profits
- Minimize the gulf between the very wealthy and the very poor by reducing taxes on the middle-income class and levying heftier taxes on the wealthiest citizens
- Increase Federal transfers for the poorest families and individuals (for example old age pension, etc.)
- Ottawa should transfer $630 million to the Quebec Government so that it can set up its own parental leave program.
- Have a refundable tax credit for all families with children under 18 years of age
- Insure that GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement) is made available to all eligible Old Age persons. Ottawa should reimburse the $3.2 billion that it did not give out.
- Transfer funds saved by the federal government to the Quebec government because of its implementation of low cost daycare programs
Foreign policy
- Foreign policy should be based on the defence of human rights
- Canada should be a key player in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and the protection of the environment
- Supports a noticeable increase in foreign aid to Third World countries
- International cooperation should be geared toward Education, Public Health, Sustainable Development and Good Governance
- Promote Quebec delegations throughout the world
- Oppose Canadian involvement in the anti missile defense shield and campaign for an international treaty banning the militarization of space
Immigration
- a sovereign Quebec will develop the tools to set up better immigration policies to attract immigrants to all regions of Quebec culture
- Create a National Institution that promotes Cultural Diversity
Environment
- Enhance economic growth while preserving the environment patrimony
- Ratify the Kyoto Protocol
- Promote/subsidize public transportation, use of electric cars, etc.
- Protection of the St.Lawrence River and fresh water reserves of Quebec
- Opposes the widening of the St. Lawrence River under study by the federal government and the American Army (Army Corp of Engineers)
- Mandatory labeling of all GMO products
- Ratify the Carthaginian biodiversity protocol
- Environment Canada and Health Canada have to take the necessary measures to protect the health of citizens in view of rising pollution concerns/threats
- Reducing greenhouse effect pollutants is a priority
- Invest in a wind energy industry in Eastern Quebec.
- Inject the same amount of money awarded to the Hibernia project. This could create up to 15,000 jobs in that industry.
- Promote a tax on non-renewable energy and subsidize polluting industries in reducing emissions.
Aboriginals
- Recognize Aboriginal rights and nations
- Put in place a viable economic and social contract between Quebec and Aboriginal nations
Trade
- Ottawa should allow the Quebec government to be an equal partner in international forums where its interests are at stake
- Creation of a Free Trade Zone of the Americas with mechanism in place to ensure wealth redistribution and upkeep the common good over special interests
- With the inception of this FTZA, create an Americas Social Fund (supported by the Mexican government) to help compensate industries or regions that have difficulties in adapting to new trade rules
- Modify Chapter 11 of NAFTA so government can legislate for the common good
- Ensure that NAFTA commercial tribunals are open to the public scrutiny and are transparent
- All Free Trade Accords should be approved by the House of Commons before ratification
- Women's interests must be taken into consideration in all world trade negotiations
- Ensure that Ottawa takes a firmer position in the softwood lumber dispute
- Have an integrated plan for the fisheries
- Abolish fiscal accords between Canada and Tax Free Havens
- Adopt a common currency of the Americas
- Set up a Currency Institute of the Americas to help prepare countries in adopting /adjusting to this currency
- Canada should take a stance and condemn some of the inequitable policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
Education
- Education is a priority
- Students that have been awarded bursaries should be exempt from certain regulations if they need a health or maternity leave during the course of their studies
- Increase education transfer payments
Labor
- Put in a place a generous parental/maternity leave program, accessible to all categories of workers
- Create an autonomous fund for Employment Insurance to be run by employees and employers and accessible to all including the self employed and seasonal workers
- Prevent use of strikebreakers in all companies that operate under federal registration
Infrastructure
- Ottawa should set up a new infrastructure rebuilding program to be administered by the Quebec Government.
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