Quebec independence push highlighted at PQ convention

At the Parti Québécois convention in St-Hyacinthe, leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon urged members not to be swayed by fear as the party prepares for another referendum, and delegates are set to vote on a program that pledges a referendum in a first mandate.

The campaign for an independent Quebec is taking shape at a Parti Québécois convention in St-Hyacinthe this weekend. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon urged members not to give in to a prevailing sense of fear as the party prepares for another referendum. The PQ has pledged to hold a referendum by 2030 if it forms government after the provincial election scheduled for October. Delegates are also discussing reactions to a speech by Prime Minister Mark Carney and a draft political program that would guide the party's election platform. Key developments: - The PQ leader has promised to hold a referendum by 2030 if the party forms government in the next election scheduled for October. - Delegates will vote Sunday on a political program that opens with an "unambiguous" pledge to hold a referendum in a first mandate. - Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent speech, which invoked the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, drew criticism at the convention and prompted a demand for an apology from Bloc Québécois leader Yves‑François Blanchet. - The Parti Québécois has led in polls for more than two years while the governing Coalition Avenir Québec and the opposition Liberals conduct leadership races. - Several CAQ ministers announced campaigns to replace Premier François Legault, who announced his resignation earlier this month. - Party members expressed mixed feelings about timing; one longtime sovereigntist described the prospect as "a little dizzying," while another said the moment felt crucial for the movement. Summary: The convention is clarifying the PQ's focus on independence and shaping a platform centered on a pledge to hold a referendum early in a first mandate. Delegates will vote on the political program Sunday, and Mr. St‑Pierre Plamondon is expected to respond to Mr. Carney's remarks in his closing address. The vote and the leader's statements will inform the party's approach heading into the October election.