Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has asserted that the campaign for Quebec independence is already in motion, attributing its initiation to the Canadian prime minister. Addressing a gathering of party members at a PQ convention in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, St-Pierre Plamondon pointed to recent remarks made by Prime Minister Mark Carney as the catalyst for kickstarting the federalist “No” campaign.
During a speech earlier in the week discussing the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City, Carney characterized the 1759 battle as the commencement of a “partnership” between French and English populations in Canada, advocating for national unity. St-Pierre Plamondon interpreted Carney’s statements as a precursor of future developments.
“A new political era has dawned. An upcoming phase in our narrative is on the horizon,” declared the PQ leader. He emphasized, “Quebec’s existence is independent of Canada. Quebec has not only endured but thrived in its uniqueness and distinctiveness vis-à-vis Canada,” prompting a standing ovation from fervent PQ supporters.
In a scathing rebuke on Friday, St-Pierre Plamondon lambasted Carney, accusing him of perpetuating a “long-standing legacy of colonialism” tracing back to Lord Durham. “This legacy entails distortion of facts and history, incessantly propagating falsehoods through federal establishments,” he asserted. “We are poised to break away from British colonialism and forge our sovereign nation.”