Alberta independence advocates welcomed the election of Quebec premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, saying his victory could shift Canada’s political landscape and offer support to their movement. Jeffrey Rath, a leading figure in the Alberta separation campaign, said Tuesday that St-Pierre Plamondon had already demonstrated a willingness to back Alberta separatists. “For the first time in Canadian history, we have a government in Quebec that supports Alberta independence,” Rath said in an interview. “That’s huge.”

St-Pierre Plamondon and the separatist Parti Québécois are set to form a minority government following Monday’s Quebec election. The governing Coalition Avenir Quebec was wiped from the assembly. St-Pierre Plamondon has promised to hold a third referendum on Quebec separation, but said it would not take place until after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office.

During a visit to Calgary last year, St-Pierre Plamondon said he would recognize an independent Alberta if the province voted to separate. Rath said he met the Parti Québécois leader in Calgary. Both are lawyers, and Rath said they talked for three hours over dinner and have stayed in contact. “I’ve gotten to know him relatively well over the last year. I think people are going to be very surprised at how well he governs,” Rath said.

Corey Morgan, an online commentator and separatist advertiser in Alberta’s upcoming referendum, also described the premier-designate as an ally. He said the Quebec result bodes well for Alberta’s independence movement. “I believe it’s in the interest of independence movements on both sides of the country to … maintain pressure and instability on the federal system,” Morgan said.

Albertans will vote on Oct. 19 on whether to remain in Canada or proceed to a second, binding vote on leaving the country. Premier Danielle Smith called the vote earlier this year after two competing petitions, one on each side of the separation debate, each received hundreds of thousands of signatures. Smith supports Alberta staying in Canada and has said she will vote accordingly.

Smith congratulated St-Pierre Plamondon in a social media post on Monday, saying she looked forward to working with his government. “Our provinces and our country are stronger when we work together, stand united and build a stronger future for all Canadians,” she wrote. Her message did not address separation. Prime Minister Mark Carney also left the issue out of his own social media post.

Morgan said he thought the two leaders were avoiding a central issue raised by the Quebec result. “People are kind of dodging that fact that, whether you like it or not, even if that wasn’t the prime driver in this provincial election, Quebec just elected an overtly separatist party to be their government,” he said. “That’s significant, and that’s going to make a difference in policy in the next two to four years.”

Rath, a fierce critic of Smith for delaying a binding separation vote, said St-Pierre Plamondon’s path to power offered a model for Alberta. The Parti Québécois drew much of its electoral support from outside Quebec’s two largest cities and formed government with about 28 per cent of the overall vote. Rath said a similar outcome could be possible in Alberta if Smith’s United Conservative Party fractured over separation.

Smith has repeatedly said her party, government and caucus are committed federalists. In recent weeks, two UCP constituency associations have called for a leadership review. Rath said he believes party members who favour Alberta leaving Canada make up a “supermajority” within the UCP, despite the premier’s assurances. “I think this is going to be really interesting for Alberta politics,” he said.

Based on reporting by Global News Edmonton.