With Quebec independence a top priority, Parti Québécois struggles for relevance in Trump era

U.S. president Donald Trump's tariff threats and digs at Canadian sovereignty are forcing Canadian politicians of all stripes to adapt, and in Quebec, the opposition Parti Québécois is facing a particularly tough challenge.

Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has put Quebec independence front and centre, promising a referendum on sovereignty within a first PQ mandate.

That's been mostly a successful message that has helped revitalize the party.

But Trump has changed the game.

Across the country — even in Quebec, where people generally identify less with Canada — calls for Canadian unity in the face of Trump's threats are surging.

"People are questioning whether or not it's a good time for Quebec to even think about being a country, in a situation when even a G7 country like Canada seems too small to be sitting right next to Donald Trump," Emilie Nicolas, a columnist for Le Devoir, told CBC in an interview.

Sébastien Dallaire, executive vice-president at polling firm Léger marketing, told CBC he's seen a real shift in recent weeks, directly related to what he calls "the Trump eclipse."

"Support for sovereignty has gone down to its lowest level that we've measured in many, many years,"  Dallaire told CBC.

The PQ is still first in voting intentions in Quebec, but has also seen a slight decline in popularity since Trump was elected.

"It's a little more difficult right now for the PQ as a party whose main platform is about pushing for Quebec independence and pointing out why Ottawa poses a problem," Dallaire said.

"The traditional levers that the PQ can use to try to win are much harder to use," he said.

The PQ's response to the tariff crisis has been not to pivot, but to double down on Quebec independence, saying it's the best way for the province to weather threats from south of the border.

"It's one thing to say that Canada needs to be united, but if it's not, and other provinces are working for their business — not minding Quebec's business — I mean, that's the reality," St-Pierre Plamondon said last week at the launch of the party's byelection campaign in the Montreal-area riding of Terrebonne.

"I've been saying from the start, we should have a strong Team Quebec that looks at our interests," he said.