Latest news with #St-PierrePlamondon
Montreal Gazette
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
PQ candidate Boissonneault says he regrets his reckless youth
Quebec Politics By VICTORIAVILLE — The Parti Québécois candidate for the riding of Arthabaska deeply regrets his reckless youth but said Wednesday he is a new man, enough to merit the confidence of voters. And former journalist Alex Boissonneault insisted even if he had been approached three weeks ago about running by PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon — turning down his first and second offer — at no time was his journalistic integrity in doubt. He made his decision to run only Sunday, immediately informing his employer, Radio-Canada, which removed him from his job hosting the Quebec City morning show, Première Heure. He said he respected all the ethical guidelines of the corporation. At an at times emotional news conference Wednesday in his home town of St-Ferdinand in the heart of this riding in central Quebec, Boissonneault choked up when he talked about the deep roots his family has in the region where he was born and raised and still owns land. But it was his arrest in 2001 when he was a member of extreme left radical group that plotted to take down fences at the Summit of the Americas — a crime for which he was convicted after 41 days in prevention custody — that dominated journalists' questions at their news conference. He later applied for a pardon, receiving it in 2011. 'It happened, I regret it,' Boissonneault said with St-Pierre Plamondon standing beside him on a stage overlooking pristine Lac William. 'For sure I regret it. The path my life has taken since shows I have lived a respectable, clean life.' Asked what the today 46-year-old Boissonneault would tell the 22-year-old Boissonneault in relation to past events, he replied: 'Don't do it.' He also said he does not expect local voters in the conservative leaning riding to make an issue of his past, which the PQ has called an 'error of youth.' 'People know me, my region knows me,' he said. 'I don't think it will be an issue.' He said the decision to subject his life to scrutiny in an election was not easy. 'We know there will be turubulence,' he said. 'I have four children to which I had to explain (what I did). I spoke to my wife. It was not easy.' He revealed he has come full circle from his leftist past. After completing his education and teaching for three years in Peru, his views have changed. Today he considers himself centre right on the spectrum. He said the state has to do better. 'We pay a quarter of our salary in taxes and sometimes we have trouble seeing a doctor,' Boissonneault said. 'The taxpayers have to have more for what they give. Right now they give a lot and they don't have what they should have.' He said he signed on to the PQ's plans for Quebec sovereignty because he believes Quebecers can be 'richer, personally and collectively and like any other people they are capable of assuming their destiny.' On this theme, St-Pierre Plamondon has been coherent, he added. One who has no plans to let voters forget about Boissonneault's past is the leader of the Quebec Conservative Party, Éric Duhaime, who plans to run in the same yet-to-be-called byelection in the riding which the Coalition Avenir Québec has held since 2012. One day after issuing a blistering press release treating Boissonneault as a man unfit for public office, he arrived in the riding on the same day as Boissonneault's launch to hold his own afternoon news conference. 'It's important that the public knows that a candidate has arrived with a heavy criminal record,' Duhaime told reporters after touring a local fruit and vegetable supplier. 'I'm delighted that the population now knows and is capable of taking a decision.' But St-Pierre Plamondon said he believes Boissonneault is the man for the race. He learned only of his past when he first approached him to be a candidate. Colleagues and Radio-Canada brass were aware of his past. St-Pierre said he 'looked him right in the eyes,' and came to the conclusion Boissonneault 'is the best person to represent Arthabaska.' 'He has all my confidence,' St-Pierre Plamondon said. 'I am the guarantor of his candidacy. Never would I have considered cancelling someone's life for a mistake for which he has been pardoned.' Boissonneault's arrival comes on the same day as a new Léger poll conducted for the Journal de Montréal shows the CAQ has plunged to third place in public opinion as Quebecers say they crave a change from Premier François Legault's government, which has been in office seven years. The PQ leads the poll with the support of 33 per cent of voters followed by the Liberals with 21 per cent, the CAQ with 20 per cent and the Conservatives 13 per cent. The struggling Québec solidaire is polling at 10 per cent. St-Pierre Plamondon was cautious in his comments on the poll. 'Of course we're encouraged by another poll where we gained three points and we're in a good position,' he said. 'I've never dictated any decision or statement based on polls. We're going to focus on winning Arthabaska. That's all that matters for us today and in the coming weeks.' Observers are expecting an intense three-way battle for the riding, between the PQ, CAQ and Conservatives. The CAQ first won the riding in 2012 but it was left vacant when MNA Eric Lefebvre won a seat in the House of Commons in the April general election. The premier has until September to call the byelection.
Montreal Gazette
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
PQ sticks with byelection candidate Alex Boissonneault despite his ‘error of youth'
Quebec Politics By QUEBEC — The Parti Québécois is standing by the candidate it has chosen for a byelection in the riding of Arthabaska despite his association in the past with a radical left movement and arrest in 2001. In a statement published Tuesday on social media, PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said the party's candidate for the byelection, former journalist Alex Boissonneault, was up front and disclosed the errors of his youth during the screening process to become candidate. And the party decided to let him run despite the attacks of one of his opponents, the leader of the Quebec Conservative Party, Éric Duhaime, who questioned his character. Duhaime is also running in the yet-to-be-called byelection in the riding in central Quebec. 'Alex Boissonneault obviously indicated, in all transparency from the start, that he had been arrested at the age of 22 in 2001,' St-Pierre Plamondon said. 'Contrary to what Éric Duhaime has stated, he was never sentenced to prison but was followed in a community work program.' Boissonneault, who until last week was the Radio-Canada Quebec City radio morning show host, was part of a radical left cell known as Germinal, which plotted to break open the fences set up by police in the Quebec City downtown to protect dignitaries during the 2001 Summit of the Americas. He spent 40 days in prison before being sentenced to six months of community work. In 2011, he applied for an received a full pardon. 'His error of youth was to have had in his possession a smoke device, that is to say an object to produce smoke, but not a object to injure, St-Pierre Plamondon said. 'Contrary to what Duhaime said, he was never in possession of a weapon or steel balls. 'In fact, there was never any question of wanting to hurt anyone whatsoever with or without the device.' St-Pierre Plamondon was reacting to comments made by Duhaime after the Boissonneault candidacy became public Monday. After initially welcoming Boissonneault as a fine person he was anxious to debate with, Duhaime issued a blistering statement about his past later in the evening. 'Was the Péquiste leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, aware that his new candidate in Arthabaska was arrested for possession of explosives a few days before the Summit of the Americas? 'Is Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon at ease with a candidate arrested with hoodies, baseball bats, shields, sling shots and military equipment including smoke bombs, gas masks and steel balls (to be used as projectiles)?' But St-Pierre Plamondon defended his decision to pick Boissonneault who grew up in the riding which includes the City of Victoriaville. The announcement of his candidacy will be made Wednesday morning in the riding. 'I note that he obtained a pardon in proper form in 2011 and that he has done exemplary work as a journalists for the last 18 years,' St-Pierre Plamondon wrote. 'He not only has an exemplary professional record, recognized by his peers and the greater public, but also an exemplary record as a citizen since this incident.' St-Pierre Plamondon notes Radio-Canada was aware of Boissonneault's past when it hired him, first to work at parliament and later on Première Heure (the name of the Quebec City morning show). Boissonneault's decision to seek a seat in the National Assembly took his colleagues by surprise. Until last Friday he was still hosting the morning show. Designed to diffuse Duhaime's accusations of the PQ parachuting in a candidate, Boissonneault was born in Saint-Ferdinand, a city in the riding of Arthabaska. His arrival sets the stage for an intense three way battle for the riding between the PQ, Conservatives and Coalition Avenir Québec. The CAQ currently holds the riding but it was left vacant when the MNA, Eric Lefebvre, won a seat in the House of Commons with the Conservative Party in the April 28 federal election. Premier François Legault has until September to call the byelection.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parti Québécois leader stands with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her ‘strong hand'
OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has an ally in Quebec and his name is Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the Parti Québécois leader. A day after Smith threatened the federal government of including a referendum question on separation in 2026 if her province didn't have the Accord, she thinks it deserves with Ottawa, St-Pierre Plamondon said Smith made a 'striking gesture' for the 'autonomy and defence of her own province.' 'It doesn't matter what referendum they hold, because obviously it's under construction. But I totally agree with provinces that stand up, that are loyal to their own Parliament, that are capable of showing a strong hand. And that's the key word, strong hand,' said St-Pierre Plamondon, who is often called PSPP in Quebec. In a in a livestreamed address Monday, Premier Smith called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to negotiate a new deal between Ottawa and Alberta guaranteeing more pipelines and changes to equalization. ADVERTISEMENT 'We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in. Call it an 'Alberta accord',' said Smith who then called Alberta's separation 'the elephant in the room.' 'The vast majority of (separatists) are not fringe voices… They are loyal Albertans,' she said. 'They're … our friends and neighbours who've just had enough of having their livelihoods and prosperity attacked by a hostile federal government.' At a press conference at Quebec's National Assembly, St-Pierre Plamondon said it was a 'good thing' if other provinces are able to 'stand up to the federal government'. He added that 'other provinces are showing' that Canada has issues that affect all provinces in terms of 'abuse of power'. St-Pierre Plamondon then went on the offensive against the province's journalists for not covering the rebound in support of Quebec secession. ADVERTISEMENT A recent Postmedia-Leger poll revealed that support for Quebec independence, which had fallen below 30 per cent in recent month, sits back at nearly 40 per cent. Even though Canada is engaged in a tariff war with its closest ally, support for Quebec independence has reached 36 per cent according to new data. 'The most recent and most precise information is the independence of Quebec at 40 per cent, it is the increase in independence in Alberta,' he said. Léger also polled Canadians from all provinces about their opinion about their province's independence. The result was that 29 per cent of Albertans supported Alberta sovereignty while an overwhelming majority of the 2,309 respondents (71 per cent) were opposed. National Post atrepanier@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
Ottawa Citizen
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Parti Québécois leader stands with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her ‘strong hand'
OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has an ally in Quebec and his name is Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the Parti Québécois leader. Article content Article content A day after Smith threatened the federal government of including a referendum question on separation in 2026 if her province didn't have the Accord, she thinks it deserves with Ottawa, St-Pierre Plamondon said Smith made a 'striking gesture' for the 'autonomy and defence of her own province.' Article content Article content 'It doesn't matter what referendum they hold, because obviously it's under construction. But I totally agree with provinces that stand up, that are loyal to their own Parliament, that are capable of showing a strong hand. And that's the key word, strong hand,' said St-Pierre Plamondon, who is often called PSPP in Quebec. Article content Article content In a in a livestreamed address Monday, Premier Smith called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to negotiate a new deal between Ottawa and Alberta guaranteeing more pipelines and changes to equalization. Article content 'We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in. Call it an 'Alberta accord',' said Smith who then called Alberta's separation 'the elephant in the room.' 'The vast majority of (separatists) are not fringe voices… They are loyal Albertans,' she said. 'They're … our friends and neighbours who've just had enough of having their livelihoods and prosperity attacked by a hostile federal government.' Article content Article content At a press conference at Quebec's National Assembly, St-Pierre Plamondon said it was a 'good thing' if other provinces are able to 'stand up to the federal government'. Article content He added that 'other provinces are showing' that Canada has issues that affect all provinces in terms of 'abuse of power'. Article content St-Pierre Plamondon then went on the offensive against the province's journalists for not covering the rebound in support of Quebec secession. Article content A recent Postmedia-Leger poll revealed that support for Quebec independence, which had fallen below 30 per cent in recent month, sits back at nearly 40 per cent. Article content Even though Canada is engaged in a tariff war with its closest ally, support for Quebec independence has reached 36 per cent according to new data. Article content 'The most recent and most precise information is the independence of Quebec at 40 per cent, it is the increase in independence in Alberta,' he said. Article content Léger also polled Canadians from all provinces about their opinion about their province's independence. The result was that 29 per cent of Albertans supported Alberta sovereignty while an overwhelming majority of the 2,309 respondents (71 per cent) were opposed. Article content
Vancouver Sun
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Parti Québécois leader stands with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her ‘strong hand'
OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has an ally in Quebec and his name is Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the Parti Québécois leader. A day after Smith threatened the federal government of including a referendum question on separation in 2026 if her province didn't have the Accord, she thinks it deserves with Ottawa, St-Pierre Plamondon said Smith made a 'striking gesture' for the 'autonomy and defence of her own province.' 'It doesn't matter what referendum they hold, because obviously it's under construction. But I totally agree with provinces that stand up, that are loyal to their own Parliament, that are capable of showing a strong hand. And that's the key word, strong hand,' said St-Pierre Plamondon, who is often called PSPP in Quebec. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. In a in a livestreamed address Monday , Premier Smith called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to negotiate a new deal between Ottawa and Alberta guaranteeing more pipelines and changes to equalization. 'We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in. Call it an 'Alberta accord',' said Smith who then called Alberta's separation 'the elephant in the room.' 'The vast majority of (separatists) are not fringe voices… They are loyal Albertans,' she said. 'They're … our friends and neighbours who've just had enough of having their livelihoods and prosperity attacked by a hostile federal government.' At a press conference at Quebec's National Assembly, St-Pierre Plamondon said it was a 'good thing' if other provinces are able to 'stand up to the federal government'. He added that 'other provinces are showing' that Canada has issues that affect all provinces in terms of 'abuse of power'. St-Pierre Plamondon then went on the offensive against the province's journalists for not covering the rebound in support of Quebec secession . A recent Postmedia-Leger poll revealed that support for Quebec independence, which had fallen below 30 per cent in recent month, sits back at nearly 40 per cent. Even though Canada is engaged in a tariff war with its closest ally, support for Quebec independence has reached 36 per cent according to new data. 'The most recent and most precise information is the independence of Quebec at 40 per cent, it is the increase in independence in Alberta,' he said. Léger also polled Canadians from all provinces about their opinion about their province's independence. The result was that 29 per cent of Albertans supported Alberta sovereignty while an overwhelming majority of the 2,309 respondents (71 per cent) were opposed. National Post atrepanier@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
