Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - Quebec’s separatist Parti Québécois (PQ) has returned to power after winning Monday’s provincial election, immediately putting the possibility of another independence referendum back at the center of Canadian politics. Led by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the party won 59 of the 127 seats in the National Assembly, five short of the 64 needed for a majority.
The victory gives the PQ control of the provincial government but not a free hand to pursue its independence agenda. Plamondon has pledged to hold a referendum on Quebec leaving Canada, but says he will wait until President Donald Trump leaves office, meaning the issue is unlikely to move immediately.
Current polling also suggests independence has support from only about 30% of Quebecers, making the proposed vote far from certain.
The result nevertheless creates a major new challenge for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as Ottawa faces economic pressure from the United States and growing questions over national unity.
The PQ's minority government will need opposition support to pass legislation, while its push for greater Quebec autonomy could intensify tensions with the federal government. With Alberta also preparing for an independence-related vote later this month, Canada is entering a politically sensitive period where regional sovereignty will demand immediate attention.
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