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TROIS-RIVIÈRES — Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet has provided an electroshock to the moribund Parti Québécois, delivering a speech in which he said if the Bloc was able to rise from the ashes so can the PQ.

In a surprise appearance at a special PQ “congrès de refondation,” Blanchet reminded members when it comes right down to it, they are all in favour of independence. Together, they will find a way to get Quebecers interested in the movement again.

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It all starts with what Blanchet said was the “good news,” of the last federal election, in which the Bloc roared back to life and elected 32 MPs to the House of Commons after being written off as almost extinct.

“A few months ago, people said we were crazy,” Blanchet quipped off the top in his speech to more than 500 péquistes gathered here. “Today, a bit less.”

And as some federal leaders warned during the federal election, Blanchet moved rapidly to boost the morale of the PQ and re-seal the cozy relationship between the two. In fact, PQ rank-and-file members helped many Bloc MPs win ridings in the Oct. 21 federal election.

“We don’t have to ask ourselves how many of us are for independence,” Blanchet said. “In the Bloc Québécois and Parti Québécois, we are all for independence.

“We won’t impede Canada from functioning. But each day I am more convinced Quebec should be a country, like France, England, China and Spain.”