Parti Quebecois leader St-Pierre Plamondon rules out referendum until Trump leaves office
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says his party will not hold an independence referendum while US President Donald Trump is in office. Quebec's next provincial election must be held by October 5, and he says a successful party would seek a vote later in the four-year term, after Trump's second term ends in January 2029. The pledge comes as Canadian and US officials negotiate to head off Trump's 50 percent tariff threat.
Key Facts
- Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said the party would wait until after Donald Trump's second term ends in January 2029 before voting on independence.
- Quebec must hold its next provincial election by October 5.
- Polls suggest the Parti Quebecois leads the province's Liberal Party and Coalition Avenir Quebec.
- The Trump administration is threatening 50 percent import taxes on Canadian goods starting at midnight on Wednesday.
- McGill University professor Daniel Beland said holding a referendum while Trump is in the White House would have been particularly risky.
The Referendum Pledge
Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said on Tuesday the party will not hold a Quebec independence referendum while US President Donald Trump is in office. He said the debate over independence must not be hijacked by the upheavals of American politics, the outbursts of an unpredictable president, or fear campaigns. St-Pierre Plamondon said this unpredictability of the American administration will harm the process and the quality of the debate on Quebec's future as a nation. He affirmed that he intends to seek an independence referendum should the party win this year, but the vote would wait until later in the four-year term after Trump's second term concludes in January 2029. McGill University political science professor Daniel Beland said triggering a referendum while Trump remains in the White House would have been particularly risky.
Quebec Election Race
Quebec must hold its next provincial election by October 5. Polls currently suggest the Parti Quebecois is leading the province's Liberal Party and Coalition Avenir Quebec. Coalition Avenir Quebec holds the greatest number of seats in Quebec's National Assembly. The Parti Quebecois is hoping to make gains at the ballot box.
US Tariff Threat
Negotiations between Canadian and US officials were ongoing on Tuesday as Canada sought to head off Trump's latest tariff threat. The threatened measure would place 50 percent import taxes on a range of Canadian goods starting at midnight on Wednesday. Trump has repeatedly voiced controversial opinions about turning Canada into a 51st US state. Trump has used tariffs on Canadian goods as leverage to advance policy demands. The growing friction has placed secessionist movements in Alberta and Quebec in a difficult position.
1 source
Parti Quebecois leader St-Pierre Plamondon rules out referendum until Trump leaves office
