Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon is facing mounting criticism but remains defiant after accusing certain Quebec cultural association leaders of "disloyalty" for congratulating newly appointed federal Culture Minister Marc Miller.
Political Firestorm Erupts Over 'Loyalty' Comments
The controversy began earlier this week following the announcement that Montreal Liberal MP Marc Miller, previously immigration minister, would return to cabinet as Minister of Culture, Identity and Official Languages. Several cultural organization spokespersons publicly welcomed Miller's appointment.
In response, St-Pierre Plamondon took to social media platform X on December 2, 2025, writing in French: "The intellectual emptiness and grovelling of a substantial part of Quebec's cultural scene is honestly embarrassing, I am ashamed." He followed this with further comments on December 3 and 4, specifically accusing some spokespersons of being "disloyal to Quebec."
PQ Leader Refuses to Back Down
Despite backlash from political opponents and the cultural community, St-Pierre Plamondon made clear on Wednesday evening that he would not soften his position. In an interview with Radio-Canada, he linked his criticism to broader concerns about French language decline in Quebec.
"Our francophone milieu is in decline," the PQ leader stated. "And a large part of the decline is imposed by a federal regime that does not listen to Quebec." He described Miller as "one of the architects of our linguistic decline" and questioned how cultural leaders could express happiness about working with him.
At the National Assembly on Wednesday, St-Pierre Plamondon elaborated: "At some point we have the right to expect that... these spokespersons for the Quebec cultural sector to be loyal to Quebec and Quebec's francophone population."
Widespread Condemnation and Concerns
The PQ leader's comments drew immediate condemnation from other political parties. Quebec Liberal MNA André Fortin called the remarks "unworthy" of a party leader, while Québec solidaire MNA Sol Zanetti described them as "unacceptable" and demanded an apology.
"This is a future premier who is in the process of expressing his contempt for Quebec's cultural class, for the people who keep Quebec culture alive, in the most condescending way," Zanetti told reporters.
Laurent Dubois, director-general of the Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC) and one of those who congratulated Miller, expressed serious concern to La Presse. "Being told we're disloyal is serious. And it's coming from someone who soon could be premier," Dubois said. He defended his association's need to work with the federal government, noting their members are subject to federal legislation including the Broadcast Act and Copyright Act.
The controversy occurs alongside criticism of Miller from Quebec Premier François Legault, who lambasted the new minister on Tuesday after Miller said he was "fed up" with the politicization of language debates. The Legault government has not commented on St-Pierre Plamondon's specific remarks about cultural associations.
As the Parti Québécois continues to lead in polls, St-Pierre Plamondon's uncompromising stance on federal relations and cultural loyalty signals potentially turbulent relations between a future PQ government and Quebec's cultural institutions that maintain federal ties.
