Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon recently stated that a sovereignty referendum will not be pursued while U.S. President Donald Trump remains in office, with his term ending in January 2029. This declaration gives St-Pierre Plamondon a window of over a year and a half to potentially hold a referendum before the conclusion of his first mandate if his party secures a majority in the upcoming Quebec election on October 5.
St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized that his party’s focus, if elected, would be on addressing issues arising from the current Coalition Avenir Québec government rather than rushing into a referendum. He highlighted the influence of U.S. politics on Canadian affairs, mentioning Mark Carney’s tactics to overshadow Justin Trudeau’s leadership with fear tactics.
The decision by St-Pierre Plamondon has been seen as an effort to address economic concerns related to impending U.S. tariffs, which have adversely affected Quebec’s economy in the past. Despite leading in some opinion polls over the Quebec Liberal Party, the PQ leader’s move reflects an acknowledgment that most voters are not in favor of an immediate referendum.
Critics, including Éric Duhaime of the Conservative Party of Quebec and Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard, have criticized St-Pierre Plamondon for what they perceive as a lack of clarity and consistency in his stance on independence. Premier Christine Fréchette of the Coalition Avenir Québec described the announcement as “irresponsible” given the tariff uncertainties.
While the PQ has refrained from pushing for a referendum since 1995, St-Pierre Plamondon maintains that a referendum would be pursued within the first mandate of a PQ government. This strategic move is aimed at appealing to voters who may not be enthusiastic about a referendum but are eager for a change in leadership. However, the effectiveness of this approach remains uncertain.
