Parti Québécois puts proposed referendum budget at C$130 million

The Parti Québécois has released an initial detailed cost estimate for its referendum plan: C$130 million over three fiscal years. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon presented the estimate to The Canadian Press on September 11, as opponents sought details about the cost of his sovereignty proposal. [1]

Preparation before the vote

The timetable allocates C$10 million in 2027–28 and the same amount in 2028–29 for studies and consultations. A travelling commission would work on issues including an interim constitution. The remaining C$110 million would fund the referendum in 2029–30. Organizing the vote therefore accounts for most of the announced budget. [1]

These amounts remain an election commitment. According to The Canadian Press, the complete fiscal plan is expected on September 15. It will place this promise alongside the party’s other budget choices. [1]

A budget alone does not trigger a referendum

TVA Nouvelles reports that St-Pierre Plamondon intends to pursue the proposal even if he leads a minority government. In that situation, he would seek support from sovereigntist members of other parties to pass the necessary legislation. The election result and the distribution of support in the National Assembly would therefore influence whether the plan could proceed. [2]

The same outlet cites an estimated C$126.8 million cost for the October 5 general election. That figure provides a sense of scale, but the two exercises do not cover the same activities: the PQ budget includes preparatory work over several years. A sound comparison needs to account for that difference in scope. [2]

The announcement puts a price on the proposal without settling the conditions required to carry it out. Funding details and political support still need to be examined when assessing its feasibility. [2]