Poilievre promises ‘responsible federalism’ as Tories release Quebec platform

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has unveiled a Quebec platform that promises to respect the province’s autonomy and to work to protect its language and culture if he’s elected.

Poilievre released his two-page Quebec platform at a rally in the Quebec City area Wednesday, promising a “responsible federalism” that treats the provinces as partners rather than subordinates of the federal government.

“With responsible federalism, the federal government will be smaller, Quebec more autonomous, and Quebecers freer and more prosperous,” the document read.

In a rally held almost entirely in French, Poilievre told a packed hotel conference room that the rest of Canada can learn from Quebecers’ determination to protect their culture and identity.

“Quebecers do not tear down their statues, pull down their flags or hide who they are,” he said. “They sing their songs, tell their stories and wave their flag. And Canadians should do the same.”

The Conservative leader said his government will not implement any federal policies or initiatives in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction without the consent of the provinces.

He is also promising to work with Quebec to reduce the number of non-permanent residents in the province by half.

The latter has been a long-standing demand of Quebec Premier François Legault, who has said the number of temporary immigrants is putting pressure on services such as housing and education and making it harder to protect the French language.

During his speech, Poilievre said the number of temporary immigrants in the province has “exploded,” and promised to establish “responsible” immigration levels.

He also promised to grant the province more power to select temporary immigrants from the International Mobility Program, saying “it’s up to Quebec and not Ottawa to decide the needs.”

Poilievre’s platform acknowledges that the French language is in decline, and commits to maintaining funding for Quebec culture, as well as preserving Radio-Canada services, and appointing a governor general who speaks both English and French.

It also repeats his promises to fund a Quebec City road link, cancel a tramway project and work towards reviving a liquefied natural gas plant project in the Saguenay region.

The crowd in the room waved blue and white “Quebec pour Pierre” signs, chanted his name and cheered as Poilievre name-dropped famous Quebecers, including hockey great Maurice Richard and pop star Celine Dion.

However, recent polling suggests that the Conservative leader is facing a tough battle in the province.

A Leger poll published this week found that only 19 per cent of those surveyed in Quebec said Poilievre would make the best prime minister – the second-lowest after Atlantic Canada.

Similarly, his Conservatives trailed Mark Carney’s Liberals in voting intentions in the province, at 23 per cent compared to 41.

The online poll did not have a margin of error.

But Bernard Généreux, a Quebec MP running for re-election in a riding near Quebec City, said he was “totally confident” that the party’s message was resonating in Quebec.

He told reporters in Montmagny, Que., that the polls indicate that support for his party hasn’t fallen in the province the way it has in other parts of the country, and said he believed the party’s platform would eventually gain it more support.

“We have even more chances of winning more seats in Quebec, I’m convinced of it,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2025.