Canadian Party of Quebec Launches “Democracy without Division” Campaign Message in Montreal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11, 2026

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – The Canadian Party of Quebec (CaPQ) formally presented its 2026 election message, “Democracy without Division,” at a press conference Wednesday at Dorchester Square in downtown Montreal, where party leader Joseph Cianflone and candidates called for a Quebec that protects the French language while respecting individual rights, democratic freedoms and Canadian unity.

Cianflone, the party's candidate in Soulanges, opened the event by arguing that Quebecers are too often presented with a false choice between protecting their language and culture and protecting fundamental rights.

“For the majority of us, there is no contradiction between the French language and our fundamental rights,” Cianflone said.

Launching the party's campaign slogan, “Democracy without Division / La démocratie sans division,” Cianflone criticized what he described as decades of politics driven by fear, identity and division. He pointed in particular to the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause and the government's proposed Quebec constitution, Bill 1, as examples of a political approach the CaPQ wants to change.

“True democracy is about equal access to an impartial government paired with individual protection from tyranny,” Cianflone said. “It has standards, it has values, and most importantly, it has no tone.”

The press conference also introduced a cross-section of the candidates representing the CaPQ in the October 5 election. Joining Cianflone were Audrey Baillairgé (Saint-Laurent), Yesica Ochoa (Jacques-Cartier), Alexandre Pendenza (Marquette), Dale Langille (Huntingdon), Joyce Stoliar Shanks (D'Arcy-McGee), and Maryam Kamali Nezhad (Westmount–Saint-Louis). Former party leader Colin Standish also addressed the gathering.

Baillairgé, a lawyer and longtime resident of Saint-Laurent who recently returned to the riding, focused her remarks on individual rights and religious freedom, explaining her opposition to Bill 21 and its restrictions on the wearing of religious symbols by some public-sector employees.

“I don't believe that anyone should have to make that choice,” Baillairgé said, referring to people forced to choose between their religious beliefs and access to certain public-sector careers.

“On peut protéger notre langue française et notre identité québécoise, sans demander à certaines personnes de mettre une partie de leur identité de côté pour participer pleinement à notre société,” she added.

The candidates spoke about their communities, their reasons for entering politics and their commitment to offering Quebecers a federalist alternative based on individual rights, equality, bilingualism and respect for Canada's constitutional framework.

Standish, who led the party following its founding in 2022, also addressed the event, arguing that Quebec federalists and minority communities need a new political alternative willing to defend their interests and constitutional rights.

The party also reiterated its concerns about Elections Québec's decision to distribute certain voter information to Quebec households only in French. The CaPQ maintains that equal access to basic election information is a democratic issue and that Quebecers should not face unnecessary language barriers to participating fully in the electoral process.

Cianflone said the party is seeking to reach Quebecers who are tired of political debates centred on identity and division and want government to concentrate on fundamental issues such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and economic prosperity.

“Together, we are building a confident, proud, and strong Quebec within a strong, united Canada,” Cianflone said.

The Canadian Party of Quebec is fielding candidates in more than 30 ridings in the October 5 provincial election.

Democracy without Division. / La démocratie sans division.

Media Contact:
Giuliana Pendenza
Canadian Party of Quebec — Communications
E-mail: giulianapendenza@gmail.com
(514) 943-9310 / (514) 249-9621

Full Remarks by Party Leader Joseph Cianflone

The following are the remarks delivered by Canadian Party of Quebec leader Joseph Cianflone at the party's September 9 press conference at Dorchester Square in Montreal.

Bonjour à tous et bienvenue à ceux qui nous suivent en direct. C’est un honneur de vous accueillir aujourd’hui pour franchir une étape cruciale de notre parcours collectif.

Depuis trop longtemps, la politique québécoise est prise en otage par le nationalisme identitaire et la politique de division. On nous fait croire qu'il faut choisir entre notre langue, notre culture et nos libertés individuelles. Mais c'est un faux débat. Pour la majorité d'entre nous, il n'existe aucune contradiction entre la langue française et nos droits fondamentaux. Le bon sens, la santé et l'éducation ne sont pas une question de ton, ni de langue. C’est une question de valeurs et de courage. C'est pourquoi notre parti se bat pour une vraie démocratie : neutre, juste et au service de tous les citoyens.

Nous ne sommes pas des nationalistes; être nationaliste et démocrate à la fois, c’est comme être à moitié enceinte : impossible, peu importe s’il s’agit de nationalisme ethnique, linguistique ou religieux. Nous sommes des patriotes québécois et des Canadiens conscients que le Canada est notre création et, comme pour nos aïeux, notre pays à bâtir et à respecter, ainsi que notre patrie. Le slogan du Parti canadien du Québec est simple : « La démocratie sans division ».

The Canadian Party of Quebec is proud to stand before you today to launch our official slogan for this campaign: “Democracy without Division.”

For over half a century, professional politicians have used fear, anger, and manufactured identity crises to chip away at our freedoms. They win false majorities with a fraction of the vote, then turn around and pass legislation that tramples on individual liberties without justification, logic, or recourse. We see it in the preemptive use of the Notwithstanding Clause, and we see it in the dangerous architecture of Bill 1.

But democracy is not a tool for one group to impose its will on another—that is the definition of nationalism. True democracy is about equal access to an impartial government paired with individual protection from tyranny. It has standards, it has values, and most importantly, it has no tone.

We are here to activate the 90% of Quebecers who believe in democracy, human rights and dignity, and have been left politically orphaned by these nationalist extremes. Our people want a government and a political dialogue that gets the basics right—sustainable, exceptional health care, affordable and competitive education, fixed and functional, modern infrastructure, and a fiscal policy that drives economic empowerment and real growth instead of a lack of entrepreneurship, innovation, and uncompetitive prices.

Bringing truth back to our politics takes an incredible team, and I am deeply honored to introduce the candidates standing with me today—a representative group of bright, energetic minds you will be able to support in over 30 ridings this election. Together, we are building a confident, proud, and strong Quebec within a strong, united Canada.

Un grand Québec demande de grands changements. Let’s choose a future of prosperity and unity—choisissons l’audace d’un Québec uni et prospère. Let’s choose Democracy without Division.

Thank you. Merci beaucoup.