Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Parti Québécois leader trade barbs over sovereignty

Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned a Parti Québécois victory would be a disaster for Canada, and PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said a sovereign Quebec would maintain close ties and pledged a referendum by 2030 if elected.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been urging Quebecers to reject the Parti Québécois, saying a PQ victory would be a disaster for Canada. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the PQ leader, criticized Ford's remarks and said a sovereign Quebec would keep close ties with Canada. The exchange took place as premiers met in Ottawa, where questions about Quebec and Alberta sovereignty were discussed. Quebec Premier François Legault told reporters the province's future is for Quebecers to decide and said a majority oppose separation. What officials said: - Doug Ford warned a Parti Québécois win would be a disaster for Canada and stood by comments he first made Wednesday. - Paul St-Pierre Plamondon criticized Ford and said a sovereign Quebec would maintain close ties with Canada. - The PQ leader has pledged to hold a sovereignty referendum by 2030 if he wins the October provincial election; François Legault has said the choice rests with Quebecers. Summary: These comments have underscored tensions among provincial leaders about national unity ahead of Quebec's election. The current status is a public exchange between Ford and the Parti Québécois leader discussed during a premiers' meeting in Ottawa. The next stated procedural milestone is the PQ leader's pledge to hold a sovereignty referendum by 2030 if elected; other next steps are undetermined at this time.