The Canadian Bar Association Joins Quebec Bar in Opposing CAQ’s Proposed Constitution
The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) has joined the Quebec Bar Association in denouncing the proposed Quebec constitution by the CAQ government.
In a legal filing made on Wednesday, the Quebec chapter of the CBA is calling for the withdrawal of Bill 1, following the Quebec Bar Association’s concerns raised the previous evening regarding the potential compromise of fundamental rights under the bill.
The Quebec CBA argues that the process leading to the bill’s introduction lacked legitimacy due to the government’s isolation in drafting the proposed constitution without prior consultation, leading to insufficient support and consensus.
Both the Quebec Bar and the Quebec CBA express worries about the potential weakening of individual rights and freedoms, including freedom of religion, through the introduction of collective rights for the Quebec nation.
Additionally, the Quebec CBA opposes provisions protecting women’s right to choose abortion, citing concerns about the potential impact on reproductive autonomy, a right that courts have deemed protected.
The Quebec CBA specifically criticizes article 5, which would prevent organizations from using public funds to challenge laws deemed fundamental, such as those related to the official language and state secularism of Quebec.
The Quebec CBA calls for the withdrawal of this provision, highlighting it as part of a series of political actions that could undermine the rule of law and hinder citizens’ ability to assert their rights and opinions.
