The Quebec government strongly opposes federal interference in provincial affairs regarding the use of the notwithstanding clause, particularly in relation to Bill 21 on State Secularism. Premier François Legault emphasized the government’s commitment to defending the law that prohibits religious symbols during a press conference.
The federal government has petitioned the Supreme Court of Canada to regulate how provinces invoke the notwithstanding clause from the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This move has sparked accusations of hypocrisy and an attack on provincial sovereignty from Quebec officials.
Minister Jean-François Roberge criticized Ottawa’s actions as a direct affront to Quebec’s way of life and the principles of Bill 21. Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette echoed this sentiment, describing Ottawa’s approach as an intrusion into the autonomy of Canadian parliaments.
Bill 21, passed in 2019, restricts individuals in authoritative roles from wearing religious symbols. The Court of Appeal upheld the bill in 2024, affirming Quebec’s right to use the notwithstanding clause preventively.
The federal government’s focus on denouncing the preventive use of the notwithstanding clause has drawn strong reactions from Quebec politicians, including the Parti Québécois. The PQ criticized Ottawa’s attempt to modify the application of the notwithstanding clause through the judiciary, labeling it as a disregard for Quebec’s choices and values.
Keyphrase: Quebec Bill 21
