The PQ leader's referendum is an unprecedented radical promise, says Duhaime

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Quebec Conservative Party Leader Eric Duhaime said Monday that Quebec Conservative Party Leader Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon's pledge to hold a sovereignty referendum during the PQ government's first term is unprecedented.

Duhaime was referring to comments the PQ leader made before an audience of 500 party members on Sunday.

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Saying he is confident the PQ can form the next government in the 2026 election, St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged to hold a third referendum before the end of the decade.

And the PQ leader said the referendum could be Quebec's last chance for independence because of the “existential threat” posed by the federal government “against our people.” Saint-Pierre Plamondon said: “If we remain in 'federal mode', the job is done for us.”

The speech drew criticism from the PQ leader's opponents, who noted that support for independence was below 50 percent.

“This is certainly the most radical political position of the PQ that we have seen in our lifetime, because they will have a mandatory referendum in their first mandate,” Duhaime said. “It's hard to understand if it's just because support for independence was high when they held two referendums that they lost.”

Duhaime said “the more (St-Pierre Plamondon) puts his cards on the table, the more details he understands, the less reason Quebecers will see to vote for the PQ.”

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