Parti Québécois leader proposes housing plan and sovereignty referendum

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ), has outlined a multi-pronged plan to address Quebec’s housing affordability crisis and reaffirmed his commitment to a sovereignty referendum.

To combat rising home prices, the PQ proposes a plan to reimburse the Quebec Sales Tax (TVQ) on new home purchases and self-construction, a measure estimated to cost $75 million annually. The party also intends to increase the first-time homebuyer tax credit from $1,400 to $3,000. A central component of the PQ’s strategy involves reducing immigration to balance supply and demand, specifically aiming to halve the number of temporary immigrants from 500,000 to approximately 250,000.

On the political front, St-Pierre Plamondon stated that the PQ will pursue a referendum on Quebec sovereignty regardless of whether the party wins a majority or minority government in the upcoming provincial election. This stance has drawn criticism from opposition leaders. Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime argued that a minority legislature could block referendum projects, while Liberal Leader Charles Milliard accused the PQ leader of having a single obsession with sovereignty.