The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, announced on Tuesday morning that the party will refrain from holding a referendum as long as U.S. President Donald Trump remains in office. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the importance of not letting Quebec’s political future be influenced by American politics and stated that a well-informed and calm debate is necessary for such a crucial issue.
He mentioned that the upcoming government will already face significant challenges without the need for a referendum. St-Pierre Plamondon clarified that the party will not consider a referendum until after Trump’s second term ends in January 2029. If elected, he plans to engage Quebecers on the topic of independence during his initial term but only after Trump’s departure from office.
The announcement coincides with the imminent launch of the Quebec provincial election campaign, with voting scheduled for October 5. Meanwhile, negotiations are underway to avert new American tariffs, with Prime Minister Mark Carney describing the discussions as delicate and intense, aiming to reach a mutually beneficial agreement before the deadline.
Despite St-Pierre Plamondon’s pledge to hold a referendum in his first mandate, the Quebec Liberal Party Leader, Charles Milliard, criticized the delay, suggesting it reflects the weakness of the separatist option and an attempt to manipulate public opinion. Other political figures, including Quebec’s Premier Christine Fréchette and Éric Duhaime of the Conservative Party of Quebec, expressed concerns over the PQ’s decision, highlighting uncertainties and questioning the party’s reliability.
Despite the criticisms, the Parti Québécois leads in overall voting intentions, surpassing the Quebec Liberal Party and the Coalition Avenir Québec, as indicated by polling data from 338Canada. The upcoming election is expected to be closely contested, with various parties vying for voter support in Quebec.