The PQ’s new superminister will be in charge of planning Quebec’s next referendum

OTTAWA — Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon will have his very own “superminister.”

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Catherine Gentilcore, the member of the National Assembly for Terrebonne, will be juggling the crucial jobs of Quebec deputy premier, minister of immigration and integration and minister responsible for securing Quebec’s independence.

On top of that, she will be acting as the government house leader — a crucial job as the Parti Québécois government will have to find dancing partners in a minority situation.

Before entering politics, Gentilcore worked as an administrator in Quebec’s cultural sector. She made her entrance in the provincial legislature after winning a byelection in 2025 and rapidly became one of St-Pierre Plamondon’s most trusted allies.

The PQ is promising to hold a third referendum for Quebec to separate from Canada after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves the Oval Office in January 2029.

St-Pierre Plamondon said on Wednesday that Gentilcore will be responsible for preparing for this commitment once the time comes. The PQ has already promised to put aside approximately $130 million to fulfill the promise of this referendum.

The premier said his minister will be “ensuring that the ensuing debate on Quebec’s independence is grounded in facts, the public interest, and our commitment to securing the best possible future for Quebec among the options before us.”

St-Pierre Plamondon also expressed the desire to have this democratic process unfold in the “best possible conditions.”

“You will therefore serve as the guardian of this space for reflection and as the manager of the critical preparatory stages of this project — leading up to the point when our government consults the people of Quebec regarding their future within Canada.”

The new premier is entrusting her, as minister of immigration and integration, with the complicated task of lowering permanent immigration levels to 35,000 people per year.

Gentilcore is expected to present Quebec’s annual immigration plan next month, as requested by law, once the work of the legislature resumes on November 24.

But most of her work will be carved out for her as she will be busy negotiating with opposition parties to garner support for the government’s bills.

The first piece of legislation from the PQ is expected to freeze the salaries of elected officials and senior executives of Crown corporations until the budget is balanced.

“Quebecers want Parliament to function. You will therefore have a mandate to collaborate with the opposition parties and ensure that progress is made, solely in the interest of the people of Quebec,” St-Pierre Plamondon told Gentilcore.

“You are, I believe, the best person to find common ground, while respecting the principles that guide our political action,” he added.

St-Pierre Plamondon promised a smaller cabinet. He named 22 ministers — six fewer than the CAQ government before him — so all of his picks find themselves juggling multiple portfolios and are expected to deliver targeted results in a short timeframe.

The new premier is himself the minister responsible for combatting homelessness, one of his core priorities. He is promising to reduce homelessness by 50 per cent.

National Post
calevesque@postmedia.com

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