Quebec's voice was not heard in tariff discussions, says PQ

Ottawa ignored Quebec's demands by imposing 'dollar-for-dollar' counter-tariffs on the United States, Parti Québécois (PQ) Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Tuesday. 'Quebec's position was not heard,' he insisted during a press briefing in Quebec City devoted almost entirely to the trade war. According to him, the 'dollar-for-dollar' counter-tariffs are a 'disguised tax on Quebecers.' Quebec businesses will be affected and the cost of living will rise, he predicted. Quebec had called for targeted retaliatory measures, but Tuesday, St-Pierre Plamondon insisted that Premier Christine Fréchette 'did not stand her ground.' He said he now fears an 'inflationary' surge and a 'severe recession.' A PQ government, he said, would have had a better 'balance of power' with Ottawa. If it comes to power on Oct. 5, the PQ said it is promising to offer 'one-time, targeted' aid programs to businesses in Quebec's hardest-hit sectors. It also pledged to support businesses by allowing a tax exemption for revenue from new export markets. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 8, 2026.