The Bloc Québécois (BQ) is a federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to both the protection of Quebec's interests on a federal level as well as the promotion of its sovereignty. As such, it campaigns only within the province during elections.The Bloc Québécois is supported by a wide range of voters in Quebec, from large sections of organised labour to more moderate rural voters. Members and supporters are known as "Bloquistes" [bl kist] (Bloquists). The party itself is sometimes known as the "BQ" in English-speaking media. English-speaking Canadians commonly refer to the BQ as "the Bloc".The Bloc is currently the third largest party in the Canadian House of Commons. The party has a close relation with the Parti Québécois (PQ, whose members are known as "Péquistes"), the provincial party which advocates for the separation of Quebec from Canada and its independence, but the two are not linked organizationally.