Photo Credit: Global News
On Oct. 5, Quebecers took to the polls to vote for a new Premier and National Assembly of Quebec, which serves as the legislative body for the province. The Parti Québécois (PQ), the historically separatist party of Quebec, won a minority government, winning 59 of the 127 seats in the National Assembly. Despite earning 28 per cent of the popular vote, the PQ was able to secure 46 per cent of seats, due to vote splitting among other parties.
The Coalition Avenir Québec, which secured a majority government in the previous election in 2022, lost all of its seats in the National Assembly.
Quebec has previously held two referendums on whether to separate from Canada, one in 1980 and another in 1995. In both votes, Quebecers voted against separating from Canada, but in 1995, Quebecers voted to remain in Canada by less than one per cent.
After being elected, PQ leader and current Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon began to discuss another referendum on Quebec separation. According to Le Monde, Plamondon stated that he believed the francophones of Quebec deserve their own country and should have the chance to decide their nation’s future.
However, he ruled out holding a referendum until at least 2029 or 2030, when US President Donald Trump is no longer in the Oval Office. According to Le Monde, he shared that a decision on Quebec’s independence would require “conditions that allow for an informed and calm debate.”
Quebec is now the second province this year to discuss leaving Canada. On Oct. 19, Alberta held a province-wide referendum that included a ballot question on whether Alberta should take steps towards separating from Canada, but voters ultimately rejected the proposal.
Friction between Quebec and the federal government on separate issues has also formed. Plamondon has openly discussed his disagreement with Canada’s immigration policies and its constitutional monarchy. According to BBC News, Plamondon has pledged to “abolish the monarchy in Quebec” and put the money spent on it toward social services. An example of this would be defunding the lieutenant-general’s office and using the money to address homelessness.
In the short future, the PQ promises to provide expanded childcare and education funding, expand public transit systems, and invest more in health care.