Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has indicated that the push for Quebec independence through a referendum is already in motion, attributing the kickoff to the Canadian Prime Minister. Addressing a large audience of party members at a PQ conference in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, St-Pierre Plamondon pointed to recent remarks made by Prime Minister Mark Carney as the catalyst for initiating the federalist “No” campaign.
During his speech, Carney referenced the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City earlier in the week, characterizing the 1759 battle as the commencement of a “partnership” between the French and English populations in Canada, and stressing the importance of national unity. St-Pierre Plamondon interpreted Carney’s statements as a foreshadowing of future developments.
“A new era in politics has dawned. We stand at the threshold of a new chapter in our narrative,” declared the PQ leader. He further emphasized, “Quebec’s identity does not owe its existence to Canada. On the contrary, Quebec has thrived with its distinctiveness and uniqueness in spite of Canada,” receiving a fervent standing ovation from enthusiastic PQ supporters.
Expressing strong disapproval of Carney’s stance, St-Pierre Plamondon rebuked the Prime Minister on Friday, alleging his involvement in a “long history of colonialism” tracing back to Lord Durham. He accused Carney of perpetuating a legacy of distorting facts and history, and disseminating falsehoods through federal institutions. St-Pierre Plamondon affirmed, “We will sever ties with British colonialism and forge our path towards establishing our sovereign nation.”