Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has asserted that the push for a referendum on Quebec independence is already in progress, indicating that it was initiated by the Canadian Prime Minister. Addressing a large gathering of party members at a PQ convention in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, St-Pierre Plamondon attributed the commencement of the federalist “No” campaign to recent remarks made by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
During a speech earlier in the week regarding the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, Carney characterized the 1759 battle as the genesis of a “partnership” between the French and English populations in Canada, advocating for national cohesion. St-Pierre Plamondon interpreted Carney’s words as a preview of future developments.
“The onset of a new political era is evident. A fresh chapter in our narrative is unfolding,” declared the PQ leader. He emphasized, “Quebec’s existence is not owed to Canada. Rather, Quebec has endured in its distinctiveness and uniqueness despite Canada,” eliciting a rousing response from fervent PQ supporters.
St-Pierre Plamondon vocally condemned Carney on Friday, alleging his involvement in a “long legacy of colonialism” tracing back to Lord Durham. He criticized Carney for contributing to a practice of distorting facts and history, perpetuating falsehoods through federal establishments. “We will sever ties with British colonialism and forge our own nation,” he affirmed emphatically.