Quebec premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has announced he is looking for legal avenues to block the province’s lieutenant-governor from participating in formal swearing-in ceremonies and the opening of the legislature.
The Parti Québécois (PQ) leader pledged during his campaign to defund the office of Lieutenant Governor Manon Jeannotte and redirect the annual operating budget of around $1 million to addressing homelessness.
St-Pierre Plamondon has also expressed opposition to the British monarchy in the past, describing it as an outdated symbol of colonial heritage and has said he is against personal representatives of the monarch playing a role in Quebec’s legislative processes.
He reiterated that stance during an Oct. 6 press conference in Quebec City.
“There’s something abnormal about a foreign king coming to tell us what to do right at the start of a legislative term, a mandate,” he told reporters. “People might say it’s symbolic, but I would reply that it’s still totally abnormal.”
The office of the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec has existed for 159 years, since the creation of the province at Confederation in 1867.
Jeannotte serves as the King’s official representative in Quebec, carrying out numerous constitutional and ceremonial responsibilities. The lieutenant governor also grants royal assent to all legislation—a final stage in the lawmaking process. No bill can become law in Quebec unless it obtains royal assent.
The Epoch Times contacted the office of the lieutenant-governor of Quebec for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
St-Pierre Plamondon also reiterated during the press conference that he does not intend to swear an oath to King Charles III.
Quebec enacted legislation in 2022 that permitted members of the National Assembly (MNAs) to forgo the oath to the king. That provision is currently being contested in the Quebec Superior Court.
The lawsuit was filed by constitutional litigator and University of Ottawa law professor Lawrence David alongside the Public Interest Litigation Institute. The lawsuit argues that MNAs who sit without taking the required constitutional oath are not legally qualified to hold office or cast votes.
Government Priorities
St-Pierre Plamondon’s comments came less than 24 hours after his party won a minority government in the provincial election on Oct. 5.
The PQ leader said his first priority upon taking office would be hosting a summit aimed at combatting homelessness.
He listed his other priorities as freezing the salaries for legislature members and Crown corporation executives, establishing a dedicated secretariat tasked with scrutinizing government expenditures and administrative processes, and assembling a specialized trade team to navigate escalating trade tensions with the United States.
St-Pierre Plamondon said his minority government would need to work with other parties to advance the PQ platform and promised to meet with each of the opposition leaders. He also said he had a constructive conversation with Prime Minister Mark Carney, during which they discussed infrastructure, homelessness solutions, and immigration policies.
He said he is willing to work with Carney and the provinces, “on the condition that the interests of Quebec are served and the relationship is based on respect.”
Both Carney and Quebec’s incoming opposition party leaders have said they planned to work with the sovereigntist party.
Carney told reporters on his way into the Oct. 6 cabinet meeting that he had spoken with St-Pierre Plamondon after the provincial election.
Carney said he and St-Pierre Plamondon discussed infrastructure funding and support for Quebec workers impacted by the trade dispute with the United States. He also said he wanted to focus on current issues rather than those that could occur in the future.
“This is a crucial time for our country, it’s a crucial time for Quebec,” he said. “This is not a time to wait for something a few years down the road. It’s a time to act. It’s a time for boldness.”
He told reporters that “boldness” included working on major projects such as the Churchill Falls energy agreement with Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Liberal Leader Charles Milliard said his party plans to carefully review the PQ’s proposals and will work with the party when those proposals benefit the province. He also said the Liberals will be “a clear opponent” for the PQ if it seeks a separation referendum.
Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime also said Conservative MNAs would work with the PQ on important policies, but would block any push for a sovereignty referendum.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
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