Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has clarified that a sovereignty referendum will not be held while U.S. President Donald Trump is in office, which is until Jan. 20, 2029. This decision gives St-Pierre Plamondon over a year and a half to conduct a referendum before the end of his first mandate if his party wins a majority in Quebec’s upcoming Oct. 5 election.
St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the focus of the next government on addressing issues created during the current Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) administration. He mentioned that the U.S. political situation has impacted Canadian politics, citing Mark Carney’s fear-based campaign to overshadow Justin Trudeau’s leadership in voters’ minds.
The announcement by St-Pierre Plamondon comes amidst concerns about impending U.S. tariffs affecting the Quebec economy. Poll analyst Philippe Fournier noted that uncertainty looms as the provincial campaign nears, with the Parti Québécois slightly ahead of the Quebec Liberal Party in opinion polls. Most voters, however, are not in favor of another referendum at this time.
Critics, including Conservative Party of Quebec leader Éric Duhaime and Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard, criticized St-Pierre Plamondon’s decision. Duhaime labeled him a “referendum weather vane” for changing his stance shortly before the election. Milliard suggested that postponing the referendum indicates a lack of clarity on the PQ’s part regarding its intentions.
Meanwhile, Quebec’s current premier and Coalition Avenir Québec leader, Christine Fréchette, condemned the announcement as “irresponsible” in light of the impending tariffs. St-Pierre Plamondon maintained that a PQ government would still hold a referendum within its first mandate, aiming for a clear and well-rounded campaign on various issues.
Fournier speculated that St-Pierre Plamondon’s strategy might attract soft nationalist voters who desire a change in leadership but are wary of a referendum. However, the effectiveness of this approach remains uncertain.
