FORUM 2025: Plamondon addresses the state of the Canadian federation and stresses the importance of dialogue

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon praised the School of Public Policy for providing a forum for critical conversations on the state of the Canadian federation as part of his two-day visit to Alberta.

“I love universities for the opportunities to ask questions,” Plamondon said while making his case for Quebec independence. “What we are doing here today is important whether you agree with me or not.”

He spoke in a fireside chat with Martha Hall Findlay, Director and James S. and Barbara A. Palmer Chair of the School, as part of the Forum 2025 Speaker Series titled Alberta and Quebec: Essential Allies?

Hall Findlay agreed on the importance of the universities providing forums for exchanges of differing points of view in a world that is becoming increasingly intolerant.

“We are not here to promote. We are not here to persuade,” she said. “We’re here to provide a forum for debate and discussion.”

Photo credit: Laura James Photography

Their wide-ranging discussion included a question-and-answer session with Master of Public Policy students that offered a pulse check on Quebec politics and the state of the Canadian federation.

Canadian Governance Policy is an area of focus for the School.

Plamondon is a McGill and Oxford-educated lawyer, author and media commentator. He was elected leader of the Leader of the Parti Québécois in 2000 and has represented the Montreal riding of Camille-Laurin in the National Assembly of Quebec since 2022.

The PQ hold a lead in public opinion polls in Quebec. If they form government after the October 2026 provincial election, Plamondon has pledged he would hold a third referendum on Quebec independence.

In May, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her government would hold a referendum on sovereignty next year if a citizen petition collected enough signatures. Plamondon said he supported a possible Alberta referendum and that it would serve the Quebec sovereignty movement.

Plamondon said he is committed to self-determination for Quebec through democracy and saw several areas of collaboration with Alberta on areas where the federal government has waded into provincial jurisdictions.