PQ leader vows to push Quebec sovereignty vote regardless of election outcome

During a campaign stop in Quebec City, Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon declared that his party will move forward with a referendum on Quebec sovereignty regardless of whether it governs with a majority or a minority. He emphasized that a majority government would give the PQ more leeway to address issues such as health care, education and homelessness, and urged voters to elect his party in strength. Conservative leader Éric Duhaime responded by urging voters to give his party the balance of power in a minority legislature to prevent any referendum, while Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard accused Plamondon of being obsessed with a vote on independence.

All five party leaders are scheduled for back-to-back interviews on Radio-Canada, followed by debates on TVA, Noovo and a final Radio-Canada forum later in September. The campaign remains focused on economic concerns, U.S. tariffs and affordability, with the referendum issue adding a sharp partisan divide.