A constitutional change is “necessary” in Canada to prevent the preventive use of the notwithstanding provision of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, said the former Minister of Justice, David Lametti, in his farewell speech to the Parliament.
His message also included a few words of support for the Anglo-Quebec community. “We must stop scapegoating the English-speaking community of Quebec, which is very bilingual and committed to Quebec, and in many cases for 300 years,” Mr. Lametti chanted in English in the House of Commons on Tuesday noon.
The man who was Minister of Justice until his exclusion from the cabinet by Justin Trudeau last summer had just said in French that “the protection and development of the French language and culture in North America are very important”. “We have to work together [pour] May it continue in the future,” he said
” The chart [des droits et libertés]I must say, is not an option and preventive use [de sa disposition de dérogation] is a way of saying that the Charter is optional,” he added. A barely veiled reference to the use of this measure by the Quebec government of François Legault in order to protect its Act on the official and common language of Quebec, French (better known under the name of law 96) from legal challenges.
The man who was also a law professor at McGill University concluded his demonstration by saying “that at a certain moment, […] we must understand that constitutional change will be necessary. And we have to prepare for that. »
During Mr. Lametti’s time in cabinet, the Trudeau government modified its approach towards the French language, committing to protecting it — even in Quebec — in order to ensure “real equality of official languages in Canada.” This new direction did not please part of the English-speaking activist base of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Like all government ministers, Mr. Lametti voted in favor of Bill C-13, a reform of the Official Languages Act which benefited from a last-minute agreement with the government of Quebec. Its objectives were publicly criticized by certain elected Quebec Liberals, including former minister Marc Garneau, who resigned in 2023.
Mr. Lametti announced last Thursday that he was leaving his “dream job.” He explained that his expulsion from cabinet last July was followed by a “personally difficult” period. The trained lawyer will join the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin firm as an advisory lawyer.
David Lametti mentioned during his speech on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Paul Martin is a “mentor” for him, and that one of the most notable moments of his time as minister was signing the proclamation establishing King Charles III as sovereign of Canada.
Member of Parliament for the LaSalle-Émard-Verdun constituency since 2015, he also highlighted his appreciation for the Les Bons Débarras bookstore and the Verdun Beach restaurant, among other businesses in his Montreal neighborhood.