Que. party leaders criticize PQ’s $130 million sovereignty referendum plan

Parti Québecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon came under fire from his rivals on Friday after revealing that his planned sovereignty referendum would cost at least $130 million.

While three of the five leaders in the campaign argued that there were better ways to spend this money, sovereigntist left-wing party Québec solidaire defended the proposed expense.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, St-Pierre Plamondon had detailed the costs of preparing for and holding the referendum in 2029 or 2030 if his party forms a government.

The referendum budget includes $20 million for studies and consultations in the first years of a Parti Québecois government mandate. Holding the referendum in 2029-30 would cost $110 million, according to the party leader.

St-Pierre Plamondon admitted the cost could exceed that amount if there are “unforeseen expenses.”

“People will have their say, but we won’t apologize for living in a democracy and for consulting the people if we’ve reached that point,” he added.

His party’s figures on a referendum will be included in the financial framework he plans to make public on Sept. 15, the day of the first party leaders’ debate of a provincial election campaign that will wrap up when Quebecers go to the polls on Oct. 5.

Christine Fréchette, leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, said there were still numbers missing from St-Pierre Plamondon’s plan. She said he had failed to disclose the costs that could be triggered after a referendum.

“The Parti Québécois tell us that they evaluate the cost of organizing a referendum at $130 million. What about the cost of year one of a sovereign Quebec? They’re completely mute on that,” she said.

Fréchette, who has declined to say how she would vote in a sovereignty referendum, called herself an “autonomist” on Friday, promising to defend Quebec’s interests within Canada.

“It’s $130 million that frankly, could be invested elsewhere,” she said.

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard called the planned expense a misuse of funds in a separate news conference.

“I can tell you what we would do with $130 million. We could offer close to one million hours of home care. We could build probably three elementary schools and 1300 non-market housing units,” he said.

Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime was also quick to criticize St-Pierre Plamondon’s plan. He said it was “unacceptable” to plan these expenses at a time when the cost of living remains high.