Independent Quebec would adopt its own currency, PQ leader says

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon wants Quebec to have its own currency in the event it becomes independent.

He made the announcement today at his party’s national council meeting in Sherbrooke, Que.

St-Pierre Plamondon says Quebec would have its own monetary policy and its own central bank.

The PQ considered two other scenarios: keeping the Canadian dollar or adopting the American currency.

The currency is the second part of the Blue Book that the PQ is gradually unveiling. 

Last week, the PQ leader revealed the chapter dealing with the international relations of a sovereign Quebec, promising to open offices in twice as many countries as it currently has, from 19 to 38, even before a referendum is held.

Other chapters of the Blue Book will be presented in the coming weeks.

Plamondon insists that he will hold a referendum during his first term, even if a majority of Quebecers are opposed to independence, according to polls.

Will the PQ be able to win Sherbrooke?

Holding this national council meeting in Sherbrooke is certainly no coincidence for the PQ.

The Sherbrooke riding has been held by Québec solidaire (QS) MNA Christine Labrie since 2018.

However, a recent Pallas Data poll shows that the left-wing party could lose this riding to the PQ.

The poll puts the PQ in first place with 27 per cent, while QS is in fourth place with only 10 per cent. The Quebec Liberal Party is in second place with 20 per cent.

For its part, the poll aggregator Qc125 also places the PQ in first place in Sherbrooke with 32 per cent, but only three points ahead of the Liberals. QS only obtains 16 per cent of the votes. Labrie announced a few months ago that she will not be running again in 2026.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews