Key facts
- Quebec's provincial election is scheduled for October 5.
- The governing Coalition Avenir Québec has identified U.S. President Donald Trump as a key adversary in the election campaign.
- Trump's trade policies and rhetoric are influencing the political debate in Quebec.
- The separatist Parti Québécois has linked its referendum plans to Trump's presidency.
- The Parti Québécois has indicated a potential referendum would not occur before 2029.
Quebec's provincial election, scheduled for October 5, has seen U.S. President Donald Trump emerge as a central figure in the campaign narrative. The governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), led by Premier Christine Fréchette, has explicitly named Trump as its "real adversary," citing his trade war with Canada as a significant economic threat to Quebec businesses and workers. Fréchette is seeking a mandate to navigate this period of uncertainty.
The separatist Parti Québécois (PQ), which polls suggest is favored to win, has also been influenced by Trump's presidency. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has indicated that the party would postpone any referendum on independence until after Trump leaves office, arguing that his presence creates too much uncertainty for Quebecers to consider their future. Plamondon has also cautioned against allowing Trump's policies to dominate the provincial election.
Conversely, Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard has used Trump's trade actions to argue for Quebec's continued place within Canada, stating that the province is stronger as part of a larger nation when facing international trade disputes. The U.S. tariffs and Trump's past rhetoric about Canada have become a notable issue in Quebec's provincial politics, impacting the long-standing debate over sovereignty.