Francois Legault wants the Trudeau government to fall

Quebec Premier Francois Legault is calling on the Bloc Quebecois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault on Thursday urged the Bloc Quebecois to help topple the federal Liberal government and trigger an election, saying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to disrespect the will of the province.

Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet responded moments later, rejecting that call and saying he serves Quebecers "according to my own judgment."

Legault's comments are in reaction to plans by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to put forward a motion of non-confidence in the government on Sept. 24. If both the NDP and Bloc support it, the minority Liberal government would fall and Canadians would head to the polls in a general election.

For the past several months Legault has come out strongly against Trudeau, accusing the prime minister and the Liberals of interfering in matters of provincial jurisdiction and refusing to address a sharp rise in asylum seekers and other temporary immigrants in the province.

In his demand to Blanchet, Legault summoned Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, whose provincial party is ideologically aligned with the Bloc, both of which campaign for Quebec independence.

"I'm asking Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon to have courage and ask his Bloc Quebecois comrade to back down, not to support the Trudeau government next week, to defend the interests of Quebecers and the Quebec nation," Legault said.

"Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon has a duty to stand up, to be courageous and to call out Mr. Blanchet."