The Parti Québécois has declared that there will be no referendum as long as President Donald Trump remains in office, according to party leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the importance of avoiding potential influences from American politics on the Quebec political future discussion. He highlighted the need for a well-informed and composed debate on such a critical matter, stating that the upcoming government will already face significant challenges without the added pressure of a referendum.
To eliminate concerns that the timing might be unfavorable due to Trump’s presidency, St-Pierre Plamondon confirmed that a referendum would not be considered before the end of Trump’s second term in 2029. He mentioned that if elected, he would seek input from Quebecers on the independence issue after Trump leaves office.
The announcement comes just a week prior to the official launch of the Quebec provincial election campaign, scheduled for October 5. Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing to prevent new American tariffs from taking effect, with Prime Minister Mark Carney describing the discussions as delicate and intense. Carney plans to engage with his American counterpart before the impending tariff deadline to secure a mutually beneficial agreement.
Regarding the PQ’s decision, Quebec Liberal Party Leader Charles Milliard criticized the postponement, suggesting that it reflects the weakness of the separatist option and aims to manipulate public opinion. He characterized the PQ as a party sending conflicting messages simultaneously. Christine Fréchette, Quebec’s premier and leader of Coalition Avenir Québec, criticized the announcement as irresponsible amidst escalating American tariffs, stressing the need for stability in Quebec.
Eric Duhaime, leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, questioned the PQ’s reliability if faced with another protectionist U.S. administration, highlighting the sudden change in stance just before the election. Despite the controversy, the Parti Québécois is leading in the polls, surpassing the Quebec Liberal Party and Coalition Avenir Québec in overall voting intentions, as indicated by political aggregator 338Canada.