The Parti Québécois has declared that it will refrain from holding a referendum while Donald Trump is in office as the President of the United States, as announced by the party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon on Tuesday morning. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the importance of preventing the issue from being influenced by the fluctuations of American politics. He stressed the necessity of creating an environment conducive to an informed and composed discussion on such a critical matter as Quebec’s political future.
St-Pierre Plamondon pointed out that the upcoming government will already be confronted with numerous challenges without the added complexity of a referendum. He explicitly ruled out the possibility of conducting a referendum before the conclusion of Trump’s second term on January 20, 2029, aiming to dispel concerns regarding the timing of any potential referendum decision.
If elected, St-Pierre Plamondon intends to engage in consultations with Quebecers regarding independence during his initial term but only after Trump vacates office. This announcement precedes the official launch of the Quebec provincial election campaign by just over a week, with voting scheduled for October 5.
Throughout the country, Canadians are anticipating the outcome of last-minute negotiations to avert the implementation of new American tariffs expected to come into effect this week. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the discussions as delicate and intense, intending to engage with his American counterpart before the impending deadline to secure a mutually acceptable agreement.
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon states that the party would consider a referendum in its earliest feasible term, post the departure of the U.S. president in January 2029.
‘A party that’s saying yes and no at the same time’
The leader of the separatist party has committed to conducting a referendum during his initial term. Despite historical support for the Liberals among anglophone voters, St-Pierre Plamondon has recently made efforts to appeal to this demographic.
According to a recent poll by Angus Reid surveying just over 900 individuals, only 15 percent of respondents indicated they would definitely vote for separation if a referendum were held presently, with an additional 11 percent leaning towards voting for separation.
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