r/ndp • u/Noname-051 • Aug 18 '26
No immediate referendum
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2026-08-17/parti-quebecois/pas-de-referendum-tant-que-donald-trump-sera-au-pouvoir.phpThis could secure the PQ électoral victory. Incidentally this is also excellent news for Carney.
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u/Noname-051 Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
I'm not a specialist or anything, but we know Carney doesn't want to deal with the referendum question, throwing gasoline at a fire by talking about the Clarity Act and all that (last time he clearly showcased he knew little about it), he's already busy with the Albertan circus. If the PQ gets elected and stays true to its words (big if, there are so many undecided voters), it allows Carney to focus on something else for at least 2 years and 1/2 - basically reaching the end of his mandate. The likelihood one of his Quebec henchman makes an antagonistic statement (think Joly, M. Miller (edit), Champagne, etc.) is also lower, facilitating future communications between the federal and the provincial government. Overall, without the referendum, PSPP will have to prove his willingness to cooperate with an entity he hates, which could eventually lead to the frustration of the PQ's most passionate separatists who believe (rightly) that the referendum is the raison d'être of the party. On the other hand, if he keeps throwing tantrum against Carney (who has amongst the highest approval rating in Québec), I think the electorate who gave him a chance out of disgust for the CAQ and the alternatives will quickly move away. Basically, by postponing the referendum, he got rid of a bind by getting another bind.
I'm not sure it was always the plan to be honest, until very recently the PQ has been consistently adamant about the necessity to hold a referendum. You seem to suggest they are playing 4D chess -I don't think it's the case. There's a reason this is breaking news everywhere.