The ongoing debate over Quebec’s stance on the Canadian Constitution is intensifying at the National Assembly.
Quebec Liberal leader Pablo Rodriguez has expressed openness to Quebec signing the Canadian Constitution, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the desires of Quebecers. However, Rodriguez clarified that this issue is not currently a top priority for his party.
Former Liberal premier Philippe Couillard also attempted to secure Quebec’s signature on the Constitution in the past, but the efforts were unsuccessful, leading the Quebec Liberal Party to shelve the idea.
Rodriguez’s stance has sparked criticism from the Coalition Avenir Québec, with Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette labeling the move as a renunciation of the Quebec Liberal Party’s history and legacy.
In contrast, Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has firmly opposed signing the Constitution, describing the federal system as stemming from a “purely colonial” British law imposed on Quebec without democratic consent in 1867. St-Pierre Plamondon reiterated that Quebec did not sign the Constitution when it was repatriated in 1982.
Regarding the federal Clarity Act, St-Pierre Plamondon dismissed it as illegitimate, asserting that he will not engage in any actions that undermine Quebecers’ democratic right to self-determination. He highlighted that Quebec’s right to self-determination is grounded in international law, emphasizing the importance of respecting this fundamental right.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Québec solidaire also echoed sentiments of the Canadian Constitution being illegitimate, questioning the validity of the Clarity Act and emphasizing the need to uphold Quebecers’ democratic rights.
