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Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged to pursue a referendum on Quebec sovereignty even if his party fails to win a majority government in the upcoming provincial election. He made the declaration while campaigning in Quebec City, with less than a month remaining before the October 5 vote.
“Whether we’re in a minority or majority, that commitment doesn’t change,” St-Pierre Plamondon told reporters on Tuesday. He also continued to urge voters to elect a PQ majority, arguing it would give his party more freedom to act on key issues such as health, education and homelessness.
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Rivals Push Back on Referendum Pledge
The PQ leader’s referendum commitment drew immediate criticism from his opponents. Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime called on voters to give his party the “balance of power” in a minority legislature. He argued that position would allow the Conservatives to block any referendum effort.
“If they’re a minority, I’m telling you right now, if we hold the balance of power, there won’t be instability because there won’t be a referendum,” Duhaime said. His remarks framed the Conservatives as a direct counterweight to the PQ’s sovereignty agenda.
Meanwhile, Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard accused St-Pierre Plamondon of having “one single obsession” — holding a referendum. Speaking in Magog on Tuesday, Milliard directed a pointed message at undecided voters. “If people don’t want a referendum, there’s only one address, and that’s the Quebec Liberal Party,” he said.
Leaders Set for Back-to-Back Interviews
All five party leaders are scheduled to appear in Quebec City on Wednesday evening for back-to-back interviews airing on Radio-Canada. The interviews arrive at a critical point in the campaign, with many voters still undecided.
The campaign so far has centred on concerns over U.S. tariffs, the cost of living, education and language policy. Polls indicate voters are closely watching how leaders plan to address affordability, which has emerged as a central theme throughout the race.
Debate Schedule
Beyond the Radio-Canada interviews, leaders also face a series of televised debates in the weeks ahead. The first debate will air on TVA on September 15. The following day, leaders will meet again in a second debate broadcast on Noovo. A final Radio-Canada debate is scheduled for September 23.
Together, the debates and interviews are expected to shape voter opinion significantly before election day on October 5. The question of a sovereignty referendum looks set to remain a defining issue throughout the remainder of the campaign.
