In a series of tweets, François Legault called Justin Trudeau’s desire to limit the provinces’ use of the notwithstanding provision a frontal attack.
“It is up to the National Assembly to decide the laws that govern us as a nation. Quebec will never accept such a weakening of its rights. Never!”, Launched the Quebec Premier on Saturday, on Twitter.
The notwithstanding clause, or notwithstanding clause, allows the federal, provincial or territorial governments to temporarily suspend fundamental rights by circumventing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Although its use is difficult and therefore rather rare, Ontario and Quebec have used it twice. The federal Prime Minister considered that the use of this clause had become almost commonplace, in an exclusive interview he gave to La Presse, and affirmed that he planned to bring the question to the Supreme Court.
“I remind you that no Quebec government has adhered to the 1982 Constitution, which does not recognize the Quebec nation. The governments of the PQ, the Liberal Party and the CAQ have all used the derogatory clause, in particular to protect the French language, ”added Legault.
“The idea of having a charter of rights and freedoms is to protect us against the tyranny of the majority,” Trudeau previously told La Presse.