Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has delivered a stark warning to his party members: as Quebec moves closer to the 2026 provincial election and a potential third sovereignty referendum, the political waters will become increasingly turbulent for the PQ.
Navigating Rough Political Waters
Speaking to approximately 600 supporters gathered in Sherbrooke for the party's two-day national council on November 15-16, 2025, St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized that despite growing criticism, the PQ must maintain discipline and focus on its core objectives. The leader, now in his sixth year at the party's helm, appears to have solidified his control over the party, with the council notably free of the internal conflicts that historically marked PQ gatherings.
"I tell you this because it's been blowing pretty hard for a few months," St-Pierre Plamondon told the crowd during his closing speech on Sunday. "I have to tell you, my dear friends, you ain't seen nothing yet."
The PQ leader attributed the increasing hostility to panic among federalist adversaries who see the party gaining momentum. The PQ has recently secured significant byelection victories in Arthabaska, Terrebonne, and Jean-Talon, while public opinion polls show the party leading, though the Quebec Liberals have been making gains at the expense of the declining Coalition Avenir Québec.
Blueprint for an Independent Quebec
The centerpiece of the weekend council was the release of the second chapter of the party's independence playbook, Livre bleu, which details the PQ's proposed approach to establishing a Quebec currency. The policy outlines a cautious, 10-year timeline for introducing a new currency, with several built-in safeguards to address economic concerns.
The plan includes seven stages stretching over a decade, beginning with the establishment of an independent commission of economic experts within the first year of Quebec achieving independence. This commission would thoroughly examine the currency question and could potentially recommend against creating a new currency if it determined such a move would harm Quebec's economy.
"We are very flexible because our real criterion here is stability," St-Pierre Plamondon explained during a news conference. He argued that having one's own currency is a normal attribute of sovereignty, posing the question: "Would you let your neighbour manage your bank account and your monthly finances?"
The PQ examined three potential currency scenarios before settling on the new currency approach: maintaining the Canadian dollar, adopting the U.S. dollar, or creating a new Quebec currency. During the transition period, the Canadian dollar would remain in circulation, a key concession designed to ease voter concerns about economic disruption.
Federalist Backlash and PQ Confidence
Federalist politicians were quick to criticize the currency proposal. Quebec Liberal finance critic Frédéric Beauchemin took to social media to denounce the plan, comparing it to saying "I am cutting off your foot and it won't hurt." Former Quebec Liberal policy committee chair André Pratte noted this marks the first time the PQ has proposed complete separation without any form of economic association with Canada.
St-Pierre Plamondon appeared unfazed by the criticism during his news conference, framing the federalist position as fundamentally pessimistic about Quebecers' capabilities. "The argument of the Liberal Party of Quebec and the Liberal Party of Canada is that Quebecers are not capable of doing what dozens of nations and populations have done with success," he countered.
In his Sunday speech, the PQ leader painted a vision of a more prosperous independent Quebec that would reclaim billions of dollars currently sent to Ottawa. When interrupted by a supporter shouting that he wants a country, St-Pierre Plamondon added: "A rich country."
The weekend event also revealed a changing culture within the PQ, with St-Pierre Plamondon noting the party has moved away from "hostile and often sterile debates" toward a focus on public service. The leader even briefly donned a Montreal Alouettes jersey to support a motion wishing the team luck in the Grey Cup, while one of the longest policy debates centered on protecting tenants' rights to have companion animals.
As the PQ positions itself for the 2026 election and the sovereignty referendum St-Pierre Plamondon has promised for a first mandate, the leader extended an invitation to all Quebecers, including minorities, to join what he called the "party of all Quebecers." "Our door is wide open," he declared, signaling the PQ's intent to build the broadest possible coalition for the battles ahead.
