Quebec Independence Referendum Unlikely During Trump's U.S. Presidency, Says Separatist Leader

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of Quebec's separatist Parti Québécois (PQ), has declared that a referendum on independence from Canada will not be held as long as Donald Trump remains President of the United States. Plamondon stated that if the PQ wins the next provincial election, a referendum would be scheduled within their first term, but not before January 20, 2029, when Trump's potential term concludes.

The PQ, currently out of power but with a strong chance of winning the upcoming election due by October 5, aims for a clear and calm debate on Quebec's future. Plamondon emphasized that such a significant decision should not be influenced by "U.S. political upheavals," unpredictable presidential "outbursts," or fear-mongering campaigns. He believes the unpredictability of the current U.S. administration would harm both the referendum process and the quality of discussion regarding Quebec's national future.

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It is not possible to hold a referendum on independence while Donald Trump is president of the United States.

Plamondon's stance reflects concerns that Trump's policies, including trade tariffs, and rhetoric about Canada potentially becoming the 51st U.S. state, have complicated the separatist movement's position. These actions have bolstered Canadian nationalism and led some French-speaking Quebecers to believe that remaining within Canada offers greater security. The issue of potential separation has also gained traction in Alberta, where a vote on pursuing a secession referendum is scheduled for October 19.

Quebec voters have rejected sovereignty twice before, most recently in a narrow vote in 1995. The province, where approximately 80% of the population speaks French, already possesses significant autonomy, including its own income tax system, immigration policies favoring French speakers, and laws prioritizing the French language. The PQ, founded in the 1960s, has long advocated for an independent Quebec but has never organized a referendum during its previous times in power.

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This unpredictability of the U.S. administration will harm both our process and the quality of the discussion about our future as a nation.