OTTAWA — Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ), has pledged to recognize Alberta's independence if he becomes the Premier of Quebec. This commitment was made during a meeting with leaders of Alberta's pro-independence movement, the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), in Calgary on Thursday evening.

Plamondon's office confirmed that he met with APP leaders Mitch Sylvestre, Dennis Modry, and Jeffrey Rath. During the meeting, he expressed his support for an independent Alberta and stated that his government would assist Alberta in negotiations with Ottawa, should a provincial referendum on independence succeed.

Rath expressed his surprise at how closely Plamondon's views aligned with those of the APP regarding federal government overreach. "He seems to have come to the exact same conclusions that we have about provincial fiscal capacity being absorbed and wasted through the grossly bloated federal bureaucracy in Ottawa," Rath said.

Plamondon has also committed to redirecting billions in federal spending to Quebec if he is elected. Rath emphasized the importance of the APP's role in the Alberta independence movement, noting that Quebec's support could significantly influence negotiations with the federal government after a successful referendum. "If you put Alberta and Quebec together, that’s more than a third of Canada’s population getting the ball rolling from the start," he stated.

Rath downplayed concerns about potential ideological or cultural differences between the APP and the PQ. He remarked, "What really struck me from that meeting yesterday is that there’s far more that unites us than divides us. The big thing that we really have in common is being fed up with our (provincial) economies being raided by folks in Ottawa who are only interested in taking as much money as they can."

He also indicated that he would support Quebec's independence in return, saying, "(Quebec’s) entitled to whatever form of democracy they want to have."

Earlier in the day, Plamondon spoke at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, stating that Alberta's future in Canada is "up to Albertans." He praised Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for effectively representing the province's interests on the national stage.

The PQ is currently leading in the polls, with a provincial election anticipated next fall. Plamondon has promised to hold a referendum on Quebec's independence during his first term if elected.