PQ leader says independent Quebec may offer lower taxes, higher pensions

The Leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, during Question Time on March 17, 2026. (The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says Quebecers would “most likely” pay less taxes and receive more generous pension benefits in a sovereign Quebec.

St-Pierre Plamondon made the comment during an appearance on Radio-Canada’s program “La parole aux mordus de politique” on Friday, where he spent an hour answering questions from viewers.

The host, Sébastien Bovet, noted that he had extended the invitation to all party leaders.

A resident of Fossambault-sur-le-Lac asked St-Pierre Plamondon whether taxes would be lower in a sovereign Quebec, prompting him to say they “most likely” would. He quickly added that he was not formally committing to a tax cut; it would be “irresponsible,” he said, to make such a promise without having all the figures in hand.

He said his “intuition” is that people underestimate the savings that could be achieved by eliminating one level of government.

“But as long as I don’t have a solid, trustworthy answer, I can’t pitch numbers without doing my homework,” he said.

The PQ leader, however, did not hesitate to promise more generous retirement benefits.

He said he sympathizes with seniors he has met while campaigning who are facing rising costs of living while their retirement benefits fail to keep pace.

“It’s a severe impoverishment for people who have done their part and have nothing to blame themselves for,” he said.

“We think we’ll be able to enhance pensions. (…) By being more aggressive on cutting red tape, we can generate something meaningful, particularly for seniors.”

St-Pierre Plamondon says an independent Quebec would be able to repatriate the $90 billion sent annually to Ottawa.

Saying he wants to be “100 per cent transparent.”

“I want to be very, very clear: there will be cuts to federal public servants,” St-Pierre Plamondon said.

He promised “transition measures” for those who learn their jobs “cannot continue in an independent Quebec.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 20, 2026.