Don’t fear a referendum, PQ leader says in final debate of election campaign

POLITICS Don’t fear a referendum, PQ leader says in final debate of election campaign By Morgan Lowrie The Canadian Press Posted September 24, 2026 12:12 am Updated September 24, 2026 12:33 am 4 min read RELATED: Party leaders prepare for final French-language debate in Quebec election LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE Parti Québecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon urged Quebecers not to be afraid of a referendum, as the five main party leaders clashed Wednesday on sovereignty, finances and the cost of living in the third and final leaders’ debate of the provincial election campaign. The moderator, Radio-Canada journalist Patrice Roy, asked the Parti Québécois leader whether he would rethink a promise to hold a sovereignty vote in the next four years if public sentiment remains against it. View image in full screen Debate moderator Patrice Roy, right, puts a question to party leaders during a leaders debate in Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Quebec votes in a provincial election on Oct. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov St-Pierre Plamondon reiterated his promise to hold the vote in a first PQ term, after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT “It’s (former Quebec premier) Jacques Parizeau who said this, but don’t be afraid of your democracy, don’t be afraid of going to the polls, don’t be afraid to think about our future,” St-Paul Plamondon said. “I think these are fundamental messages, the liberty of a people and democracy.” Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime, who has promised to try to block a sovereignty vote if he’s elected, said St-Pierre Plamondon should listen to the 70 per cent of Quebecers who don’t want a referendum. “Why do you want to send Quebec into a wall?” he asked. View image in full screen Quebec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal, left, and Parti Quebecois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon participate in a leaders debate in Montreal on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Quebec votes in a provincial election on Oct. 5, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov Liberal Leader Charles Milliard painted himself as the lone federalist on the stage, noting that Duhaime and Coalition Avenir Leader Christine Fréchette voted yes to leaving Canada in the 1995 referendum, and that Québec solidaire is also a sovereigntist…