Quebec’s New Premier Highlights Economic Concerns Amidst Immigration Issues
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of the separatist Parti Québécois (PQ), has made some bold statements regarding the economy and immigration following his party’s significant electoral victory, where they ousted the governing Coalition Avenir Québec, which held 79 seats but ended up with none. With approximately 59 seats, Plamondon is set to take a commanding role in Quebec’s National Assembly.
His campaign heavily focused on opposing high immigration levels, suggesting that politicians misunderstand how to measure prosperity. He criticized the Century Initiative, a nonprofit organization with business backing that advocates for Canada’s population to reach 100 million by 2100 through increased immigration. In a video circulating on social media, he challenged the premise of this initiative.
“That Century Initiative is wrong,” he stated in the video, pointing out that it rests on the flawed idea that a growing GDP translates to increased wealth for individuals.
While a larger population can indeed boost overall economic performance, it also means a larger labor pool. This saturation can drive down wages as workers become more abundant, leading to reduced living standards for those already residing in the area, even if GDP figures look favorable.
Previously, in November 2023, he received criticism from a Québec solidaire lawmaker and then-federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller for his comments questioning Ottawa’s target of welcoming 500,000 newcomers each year. Plamondon remained steadfast, responding that if highlighting the need for honest discussion on federal immigration policies was deemed opportunistic, he would continue to adopt that stance.
The PQ’s platform includes proposals for significant cuts to immigration, such as imposing a moratorium on new economic immigrants and prioritizing permanent residents from those already working or studying in the province. To address labor shortages, their plan emphasizes automation rather than relying on new arrivals.
In the recent elections, the PQ secured nearly 60 out of 127 seats in Quebec’s National Assembly, which falls short of the 64 required for a governing majority. The previous ruling party, Coalition Avenir Québec, faced a complete collapse, with leader Christine Fréchette losing her own seat in Trois-Rivières.
The day after the election results, Prime Minister Mark Carney advised Quebec to prioritize economic issues over discussions about a possible referendum for independence. This reflects a contrast with Plamondon’s view, which suggests that the current economic situation is being assessed in a misleading manner. Carney’s representative in Quebec, Joël Lightbound, asserted that the election outcomes do not alter the stance on sovereignty, emphasizing that any mandate for secession would require a referendum.
Plamondon has committed to initiating a third independence referendum during his time in office, although he indicated that this would be postponed until after the departure of U.S. President Donald Trump. Currently, support for sovereignty is around 30 percent, which is relatively low compared to historical levels.
Meanwhile, residents of Alberta are preparing to vote on October 19 regarding their own potential separation referendum.
