The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, has announced that the party will refrain from holding a referendum while U.S. President Donald Trump is in office. St-Pierre Plamondon expressed his desire to prevent the issue from being influenced by American politics’ fluctuations.
He emphasized the importance of having a well-informed and calm debate on Quebec’s political future, stating that the upcoming government will already face numerous challenges without the need for a referendum. To avoid concerns about the timing related to Trump’s presidency, St-Pierre Plamondon confirmed that there would be no referendum until the end of Trump’s second term in January 2029.
If elected, St-Pierre Plamondon pledged to consult Quebec residents on independence during his initial term, but only after Trump’s departure from office. This announcement precedes the official launch of the Quebec provincial election campaign, with voting scheduled for October 5.
In response to the decision, Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard criticized the postponement, suggesting it reflects uncertainty surrounding Quebec’s separation from Canada. Meanwhile, Christine Fréchette, Quebec’s premier and leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, labeled the announcement as “irresponsible” given the impending American tariffs and emphasized the need for stability in Quebec.
Other political figures, such as Éric Duhaime from the Conservative Party of Quebec, questioned the PQ’s reliability if faced with another protectionist U.S. administration. Despite the controversy, the Parti Québécois currently leads in overall voting intentions according to political aggregator 338Canada, surpassing the Quebec Liberal Party and the Coalition Avenir Québec in polls.
