Centre of Canadian Studies

In light of Québec's recent history, this lecture addresses the cultural, political, and economic challenges facing sub-state nations in today's globalized world. The speaker will present his perspective on the current state of Québec-Canada relations and possible avenues for the Québec independence movement. He will also discuss the limits of the multi-national state model in regard to peoples’ right to self- determination, with a clear focus on the Canadian case. Finally, he will talk about the political and constitutional implications of being the first MP in Canada's history to take office without having sworn allegiance to the King.

Biography: Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is a member of the National Assembly of Québec and the leader of the Parti Québécois. A lawyer by training, he holds a certificate in international law from Lund University in Sweden, a bachelor’s degree in civil and common law from McGill University, and an MBA from the University of Oxford. Plamondon started out as a human rights lawyer in Bolivia. He later worked in legal affairs for NATO in Belgium before returning to his native Québec to practice law. In 2020, he became the leader of the Parti Québécois, the political party that led the Québec government during two referendums on Québec’s independence in 1980 and 1995, with the ‘No’ side winning the latter by less than 1% of the vote. He was elected in the 2022 Québec general election and became the first MP in Canada’s history to take office without having sworn allegiance to the King