Politics in both Quebec and all of Canada were shaken up on this date in 1990 with the election of sovereigntist Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Québécois to the Commons in a by-election. This milestone moment for Quebec's nationalist party came in the aftermath of the defeat of the Meech Lake Accord two months earlier. Duceppe’s victory also followed the defection of a small group of Progressive Conservative and Liberal MPs who, led by former PC Cabinet Minister Lucien Bouchard, formed the caucus of the fledgling separatist party in the federal House of Commons. The combination of the floor-crossings and the recent and politically stormy demise of the Meech Lake Accord placed Canada and Quebec on edge. In the years that followed, Duceppe would serve as Leader of the Opposition in Ottawa and lead his party to impressive showings in various national campaigns. In the 2004 election he put on a strong performance in that year’s televised leaders’ debate, earning the respect of many Canadians outside of Quebec, despite the fact he wanted his province to leave Canada. Duceppe served 21 years in Parliament, including 14 as party leader.