PARTI QUEBECOIS WINS QUEBEC ELECTION, VOWS REFERENDUM

The separatist Parti Québécois won Quebec's provincial election on Monday, returning to power for the first time since 2014, Canadian broadcasters projected. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is set to become premier after broadcasters projected the party would win close to 60 seats, short of the 64 needed for a majority in the 127-seat National Assembly, resulting in a minority government. Coalition Avenir Québec leader Christine Fréchette conceded defeat, calling the result "difficult." Prime Minister Mark Carney said he would work with the incoming government on jobs, housing and relations with the United States.

St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged a further referendum on independence, saying he would wait until US President Donald Trump leaves office. Quebec held referendums on independence in 1980 and 1995, both of which failed, and polling cited by broadcasters suggests around 30% of Quebecers back independence. He called independence a "question of survival" for Quebec's French-speaking population, telling supporters: "Quebec just wants to exist on its own like other countries of the world." He said the project "is not about excluding" the rest of Canada, and acknowledged that voters had denied the PQ a majority.

As a minority government, the PQ will need opposition support to pass legislation and survive confidence votes. St-Pierre Plamondon has pledged to challenge Ottawa over immigration policy and to "abolish the monarchy in Quebec," including defunding the lieutenant-governor's office, which represents King Charles III, and redirecting the funds to homelessness services. One broadcaster reported that Carney could face a separate test of national unity this month when Alberta holds its own vote on separation from Canada. A further Quebec referendum would likely follow Trump's departure from office, St-Pierre Plamondon has said.