CFL stadium-friendly Parti Québécois projected to win election

Photo courtesy: Parti Québécois

The Parti Québécois is projected to form a minority government as a result of Quebec’s provincial election on Monday, which could be a positive sign for the Canadian Football League’s bid to expand to Quebec City.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of the Parti Québécois, recently pledged support for a CFL stadium in Quebec City if elected.

“I like the sport a lot. I’m convinced that Quebec City is a football market. If you add a Quebec-Montreal rivalry on top of that, it’s certain that the party will take off,” Plamondon told FM93 recently.

“I will just send the signal that, after investing a billion dollars into Olympic Stadium in Montreal, there will be a financial arrangement that is yet to be determined. It is certain that the government of Quebec will be solicited, the response will be positive, and we will participate in that arrangement.”

As of the publishing of this article, the Parti Québécois are projected to win 59 seats, five short of the threshold for a majority. 93.2 percent of polls are reporting.

“Congratulations, Premier-designate Paul Plamondon, on your election victory,” wrote Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a statement on Monday night.

“Building a stronger Québec is core to our mission of building a stronger Canada. I look forward to working with you to support Québec’s businesses and workers impacted by tariffs, create more good jobs, work to end homelessness, and get more homes built across Québec.”

The Parti Libéral du Québec is projected to win 40 seats, followed by the Parti Conservateur du Québec with 19 seats. The Coalition Avenir Québec, the incumbent government, is projected to win zero seats.

Bruno Marchand, the Mayor of Quebec City, is in favour of the stadium project, so long as other levels of government financially contribute.

The federal government is also expected to be petitioned for funding to support the project. Stéphane Cadorette of Le Journal de Québec recently reported that Carney has “moderate” interest in funding the stadium.

The CFL’s board of governors reportedly voted in favour of a potential expansion franchise in Quebec City last month. The team would be majority-owned by local real estate mogul William Trudel, with the potential for minority partners. Trudel has reportedly agreed to pay a $25 million expansion fee, but needs approval for construction of an appropriately-sized stadium for the team to move ahead.

Multiple reports have indicated that a proposed 25,000-seat venue could be completed on the site of the old Colisée as early as 2030, with a CFL team set to begin play soon after. However, others have suggested that the team could launch prior to that date and temporarily coexist with the Laval Rouge et Or at Stade Telus for a season.

Should the proposed stadium come to fruition and expansion proceed as planned, Quebec City could reportedly host two Grey Cup games in the first 10 years of the franchise’s existence.