PQ leader unapologetic about comments made regarding Canada
Parti Québécois (PQ) Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon isn't shying away from criticism that comments he made referencing Canada's colonial past were an inappropriate way to push his party's sovereignty agenda.
"We need to be considering the whole history of Canada in interpreting what's happening," he told CJAD 800's Aaron Rand.
This comes just days after St-Pierre Plamondon assured that Quebecers "will definitely be living through a third referendum" on sovereignty before the end of the decade if his party is elected.
His reasoning: the federal government poses an "existential threat" to Quebecers.
"What will become of us as Quebecers if we don't even have a fifth of the votes in a government that decides for us? We're finished. Canada has a bleak future in store for us," he told party members at a two-day national council on housing. "It's a regime that only wants to crush those who refuse to assimilate."
In speaking with Rand on Wednesday about backlash to his comments, St-Pierre Plamondon pointed out, "I'm not always soft-spoken but I always try to be as thoughtful as possible."
Nevertheless, he doubled down on his argument, saying the federal government was "disrespecting" the provinces when it comes to issues like immigration.
"That doesn't give us any hopes of integration, and housing, and of providing services for these people under the federal power of immigration," he said.
Plamondon stated that there are currently 560,000 temporary immigrants in Quebec, and if the federal government continues on this path, "there is no viable future for Quebec."
LISTEN ON CJAD 800 RADIO: PQ leader accuses Canada of 'disrespecting the competencies of provinces'
He also refused to apologize for referencing Canada's history, saying the country shouldn't shy away from its past.
"Talking about history is not being radical even though the [Quebec Liberal Party] PLQ or Éric Duhaime tries to distort what I said to make me a radical politician," he said. "I don't think people will buy that because I've been constant for the past years, and talking about history shouldn't be radical in my view."
He points out that his criticisms aren't specifically aimed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or his Liberal Party but at the federal government in general.
"He's continuing the mission of his father. He has the exact same approach toward Quebec, and that's fair to do," St-Pierre Plamondon said. "If we live in a world where the past never happened, it's difficult to have an appropriate reading of what's actually happening right now if we have no notion of what happened before."
He says his beliefs will not change no matter who is in power.
The next federal election is slated to take place on or before Oct. 20, 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
VIA Rail service delayed for hours due to suspicious package investigation in Kingston, Ont.
VIA Rail service resumed in the Kingston, Ont. area late Saturday afternoon, after a suspicious package investigation halted train service for more than four hours over the Victoria Day long weekend.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
Conservatives, NDP should be 'celebrating' EV deals: industry minister
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says federal opposition parties should be 'celebrating' the recently announced electric vehicle deals, despite their criticisms the Liberals refuse to make public the terms and conditions laid out in the contracts.
Jesus is their saviour, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.