The judgment of the Quebec Court of Appeal filed last Thursday on Bill 21 is clearly a judicial and political victory for François Legault.
It must have done him good to finally celebrate a victory, because since the general election in 2022, we cannot say that Mr. Legault has had several opportunities to celebrate.
Clearly, the Legault government seemed pleasantly surprised by the decision of the three judges. This reinforces the notion of parliamentary sovereignty, good news for the provinces.
Supreme Court
It would be very surprising if the anti-Bill 21 did not challenge the judge of the Court of Appeal. So, let’s head to the extension period as PQ MP Pascal Bérubé so well imagined.
The game risks getting tougher with the federal government, which announced that it was going to intervene in the matter, even before having had the opportunity to read the judgment in full.
Still quite special, but we can’t say it’s surprising. For Justin Trudeau, we are no longer facing a judicial question, but rather an ideological question.
The federal Liberals don’t like Bill 21 and they don’t like the hasty use of the notwithstanding clause either.
Game plan
François Legault has some time ahead of him to prepare for the next step.
If the Supreme Court validates Bill 21 and the use of the notwithstanding clause at the start of the process, Mr. Legault will be able to breathe easy and say that it is a victory for Quebec.
However, if the country’s highest court overturns Law 21, what will François Legault’s reaction be? What will be the game plan?
Will he give up or will he fight until the very end to save his legislative piece? Mr. Legault must now prepare the end of his film, because it is he who decided to put secularism at the heart of his political action.