Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette drew a comparison Friday between Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and U.S. President Donald Trump, saying there appears to be a “convergence of views” between the two over a weaker Canada.
Her comments came as St-Pierre Plamondon raised concerns about possible federal interference in Quebec’s election campaign, following remarks last month by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of using a French-language dispute in trade negotiations to hurt the PQ’s electoral chances.
Asked about the allegations during a campaign stop in Gatineau, Fréchette said: “The Parti Québécois is looking to create a sort of division between Quebec and the rest of Canada. And I don’t think Trump looks unfavourably on the idea of there being divisions within Canada.”
She went on to say St-Pierre Plamondon appeared to be giving more credibility to Trump than to Carney, while arguing Canada needs to “close ranks” amid the U.S. tariff war.
Asked whether she was suggesting Trump was encouraging the Quebec sovereignty movement, Fréchette replied: “I’m not saying that he’s encouraging it. I’m saying there seems to be an alignment, a convergence of views.”
“Trump wants to weaken Canada. I think that’s his wish, and he told us that. He hasn’t hidden it,” she said, referring to Trump’s repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st state.
“On its side, the Parti Québécois wants a winning referendum within the next four years,” Fréchette continued. “So I’m simply saying that there seems to be a convergence of views between one and the other. I won’t go any further than that.”
Fréchette also rejected the suggestion that Ottawa was interfering in the campaign.
“The Parti Québécois seems to see a conspiracy where there isn’t one,” she said.
She pointed to agreements reached between Quebec and Ottawa and said her government would work with the federal government when it was in Quebec’s interest.
“What the Parti Québécois is mainly looking for is conflict,” Fréchette said. “They like to keep that conflict going because it helps build support for the idea of having a referendum.”
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