With the draft Constitution of Quebec that it is proposing, the Liberal Party (PLQ) is putting on ice its ambitions to officially bring Quebec into the great Canadian family by adhering to the Constitutional Act of 1982.
“We are not in the process of signing the Constitution [canadienne] “right now,” said Julie White, co-chair of the Committee on the Affirmation of Quebec of the PLQ’s National Political Commission, in an interview.
In an open letter sent to the Dutyshe writes that at “no time” does the draft Constitution of Quebec “aim to obtain indirect approval of the Canadian Constitution of 1982.”
“The question of whether or not to sign the 1982 Constitution is another thing. [dont on] “We can discuss this at other times, but right now, what we are putting forward is the Constitution of Quebec,” said Mr.me White. The PLQ has been working on this idea — which it sees as a nationalist gesture — for a year.
The political party is distancing itself from the approach of former Prime Minister Philippe Couillard. During his term, the Liberal leader hoped that Quebec would finally adhere to the Constitution. In 2017, he wanted to initiate a “process of resuming dialogue and understanding between the peoples who formed this country.” This was to result in amendments to the fundamental law of Canada. The response from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was immediate: “We are not reopening the Constitution.”
Former minister Jean-Marc Fournier, who led Mr. Couillard’s quiet constitutional offensive, did not want to speak publicly about the PLQ’s project. The idea of a Quebec Constitution must be submitted to party members at a convention to be held in November.
Mr. Fournier, who is now an advisor to the parliamentary wing of the PLQ, nevertheless said he was strongly opposed to the idea that such a proposal would amount to de facto adherence to the Canadian Constitution.
An “inclusive” project
“A Constitution of Quebec does not become a recognition or a submission without having other grievances with the Canadian Constitution,” he affirmed to Duty. A Quebec Constitution, “we can’t say that it’s a totally new element,” he also maintained. “When we propose it, we talk about the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, electoral laws that provide for the referendum framework, so it already exists. […] What we are saying is to group together under the same law different laws which have [déjà] were adopted.
Quebec is the only Canadian province that has not signed the country’s fundamental law following its controversial patriation. Is the idea of adhering to the Canadian Constitution still relevant? “These are two completely different subjects,” Mr. Fournier replied.
The draft Constitution of Quebec supported by the PLQ would contain “the rules, standards and constitutional conventions governing Quebec” and would explicitly state “the values and identity of Quebec[s] “The party sees this proposal as an “inclusive” project allowing liberals to assert their nationalism.