Opinion: Another Quebec referendum? If so, let's enforce a clear question this time
Although a majority of Quebecers might wish otherwise, the Parti Québécois could very well win the Oct. 5, 2026 provincial election, along with a mandate to hold a third referendum on separation. That is a scenario many of us would rather not think about, but we must prepare nonetheless.
How?
First, changes should be brought to the Quebec Referendum Act so that, if another referendum is indeed held, the question will be crystal clear. We all know the 1980 and 1995 questions were confusing. Does anyone doubt this was intentional? We must not allow it to happen again.
There are precedents. The question in the 2014 referendum in Scotland was: 'Should Scotland be an independent country?' For the Brexit consultation in 2016: 'Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?' Closer to home, in Alberta, a group of separatists have submitted the following text: 'Do you agree that the Province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province in Canada?'
All those questions are perfectly clear and not slanted in any way. If such an approach is good for the U.K., Scotland and Alberta, why would Quebec separatists be able to impose a convoluted question, so that voters are confused into voting for something they do not really want?
Currently, Clause 8 of the Referendum Act gives the governing party the arbitrary power to write the question and vote it by a simple majority in the National Assembly. Therefore, a PQ majority government would be allowed to decide — once again on its own — one of the most important rules of the game. This is neither fair nor democratic.
The Act should be amended so that all political parties recognized in the National Assembly must approve the text of the question. The PQ would oppose such a change, but I have no doubt most Quebecers would be in favour, because they are democrats. This is something the Legault government, with its majority in parliament, and certainly the support of the Liberals, can do right away.
Amending the Referendum Act is not the only thing federalists can do to prepare. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon seems to be popular among Quebecers in large part because he appears reasonable and rational. The impression is that he does politics differently. In fact, he is arguably the most extreme leader the PQ has ever had.
St-Pierre Plamondon believes, sincerely it appears, that independence will magically solve all the problems the province faces. He envisages that an independent Quebec would abandon the Canadian dollar in favour of a Quebec currency. He never talks about an association with the rest of Canada; his project is a radical break, not René Lévesque's sovereignty-association.
Consistent with this 'rational' approach, the PQ will publish, in the next few months, a 'blue paper' on separation. Federalists should be ready to respond to each and every argument put forward by this document. Remember that two years ago, the party issued a 'Year One budget' that was lauded by many commentators as a rigorous report. A few months later, three economists and I showed how, in fact, the text grossly underestimates the costs of independence.
This is the type of work that must be done, starting now: challenging the separatist agenda at every corner.
Many might think that such a strategy is premature, that even if the Péquistes win the election next year, they will face the reality that most Quebecers do not want another referendum. However, the 1995 referendum here and the 2016 Brexit consultation showed that once the referendum ball starts rolling, anything can happen.
In other words, waiting is a losing strategy. For those of us who want Quebec and Canada to win, now is not too soon to begin preparing.
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 6:55 AM.
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