Parti 51

Founded in August 1989, the party was led by Serge Talon throughout its first version.[7][8]

The movement presented 11 candidates in the general election of 1989 but obtained only 3846 votes, or 0.11% of the province's vote and no deputy in the National Assembly of Quebec. The average percentage of votes obtained by their candidates compared to the eleven constituencies represents only 1.27%. The scores range from 0.66% (Vachon) to 1.98% (Orford). The party mainly targeted English-speaking constituencies, competing with the Unity Party in six constituencies.

In the spring of 1990, the organization requested its dissolution from the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec (DGEQ), explaining that it no longer had enough members to form an executive council, it was enacted in 1991.[9]

In 2016, Saint-Georges lawyer Hans Mercier re-launched Parti 51, again calling and campaigning for the annexation of Quebec for it to become an American state.[10][7] By the time of the 2018 election, the party had an estimated 1,100 members.[3] Mercier told La Presse that the times have changed since the party's previous era, as Quebec sovereigntism has waned in popularity. Mercier argued that Americans would be welcoming of a new Quebec state, and pointed to a survey taken during the administration of George W. Bush that suggested nearly 34% of Quebecers would support joining the United States.[3] Of the various reasons and advantages argued by the party in favor of joining the United States of America, one prominent aspect has focused on economic grounds, as for instance by the early 2000s the mutual trade volume between Quebec and the US had surpassed that of Quebec and the remaining provinces of Canada combined,[11] greater autonomy and sovereignty over its own affairs as a US state, access to the US common market, as well as national security and defence, as Quebec as a US state would have its own state National Guard and fall under the umbrella and protection afforded by the federal US Armed Forces.[12]

Similar to the example of Quebec's Parti 51, additional secessionist movements and formal political parties have formed across other Canadian provinces likewise seeking statehood via admission into the United States, such as with Alberta separatism with the formation of Alberta 51.[13][14][15][16] In order to appeal to as wide a base of support as possible, Parti 51 asserts it does not hold positions on any other issues aside from the immediate goal of seceding from Canada and acceding as a state to the US.[12]

• List of political parties in Quebec
• Politics of Quebec
• Quebec sovereignty movement
• Unionest Party
• 51st state

• Official website