The leader of the Parti Québécois has disclosed that the projected cost for the sovereignty referendum, to be held in 2029 or 2030 if the party forms a government, would amount to a minimum of $130 million. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon outlined the various expenses associated with organizing and conducting the referendum during an interview with The Canadian Press.
These financial details will be part of the forthcoming financial plan that St-Pierre Plamondon intends to release in the upcoming weeks of the provincial election campaign, concluding on October 5 when Quebec residents will cast their votes. The referendum budget encompasses $20 million allocated for research and consultations in the initial years of a PQ government term. This allocation includes funding for a mobile commission tasked with examining a potential new provisional constitution, starting in 2027.
According to the PQ leader, holding the referendum in the 2029-2030 timeframe would incur a cost of $110 million. Nonetheless, St-Pierre Plamondon acknowledged the possibility of surpassing this estimate due to unforeseen expenditures. Emphasizing the party’s dedication to conducting a referendum on Quebec sovereignty post the departure of U.S. President Donald Trump from office, he reiterated this commitment irrespective of whether the party secures a majority or minority government.
In the event of assuming premiership on October 5, St-Pierre Plamondon indicated that he would appoint a minister responsible for the independence process, who would take over from the minister of Canadian relations. He clarified that there are no set plans regarding the scale or staffing levels of each ministry, but assured that there would be no expansion in the size of the particular ministry mentioned.
Stressing the intertwining of the intergovernmental relationship with Ottawa within the independence initiative, the PQ leader addressed the demands from opponents seeking clarity on the potential referendum costs since the election campaign’s inception. After initially evading the question posed by journalists in McMasterville on August 28, St-Pierre Plamondon opted to reveal the financial details upon further inquiry by The Canadian Press.
In response to critics demonizing the idea of consulting the populace about their future, St-Pierre Plamondon highlighted the party’s focus on curtailing historical financial mismanagement and expressed confidence in the prudent budgeting of their promises. He assured that the financial blueprint to be presented soon will reflect the budgetary framework for Quebec under the prevailing circumstances and will not encompass commitments like establishing a Quebec army post-independence, if the “Yes” side prevails.
“It’s a more than prudent budgetary approach,” St-Pierre Plamondon remarked regarding the party’s financial planning and the forthcoming framework that he intends to introduce.
