The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, announced on Tuesday that the party will refrain from holding a referendum as long as Donald Trump is in office as the President of the United States. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the importance of avoiding any influence from American politics on Quebec’s political future discussions.
He stated that the focus should be on addressing the significant challenges that the next government will face without the distraction of a referendum. To ensure a well-informed and calm debate on Quebec’s political future, St-Pierre Plamondon ruled out the possibility of a referendum until after Trump’s second term concludes in January 2029.
If elected, St-Pierre Plamondon plans to consult Quebec residents on the issue of independence during his first term in office, but only after Trump’s presidency ends. This decision comes just before the upcoming Quebec provincial election campaign launch, with voting scheduled for October 5.
While the Parti Québécois has historically garnered support from anglophone voters, St-Pierre Plamondon has been actively reaching out to them in recent weeks. A recent poll conducted by Angus Reid revealed that only 15% of respondents would definitively vote to leave if a referendum were held today, with an additional 11% leaning towards independence.
Reacting to the Parti Québécois’ announcement, Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard criticized the decision as an attempt to manipulate public opinion, describing the party’s stance as contradictory. Coalition Avenir Québec’s leader, Christine Fréchette, labeled the announcement as irresponsible, especially amidst escalating American tariffs on Canada.
Despite the controversy surrounding the delayed referendum plan, the Parti Québécois is leading in the polls, surpassing the Quebec Liberal Party and the Coalition Avenir Québec in overall voting intentions. Conservative Party of Quebec leader Éric Duhaime raised concerns about the PQ’s commitment to independence if faced with another protectionist U.S. administration, questioning the party’s credibility given the timing of the announcement.
