Residents of a potential future independent Quebec will have the option to maintain their Canadian citizenship, as confirmed by Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the leader of the PQ, on Friday.
During the presentation of his Blue Book, a detailed guide addressing queries about Quebec’s potential independence, St-Pierre Plamondon emphasized the importance of citizenship in this process.
Contrary to the belief of federalists, who support Canada, St-Pierre Plamondon clarified that Quebecers will not automatically lose their Canadian citizenship upon independence, outlining various pathways to obtain Quebec citizenship in the new chapter of the Blue Book.
In the proposed plan, all Canadian citizens living in Quebec on independence day would be granted Quebec citizenship automatically. Specific procedures are also outlined for non-citizens and Francophones residing outside Quebec who wish to acquire Quebec citizenship.
St-Pierre Plamondon highlighted that Quebec citizens can still maintain their Canadian citizenship post-independence if they opt for dual citizenship, noting that Canada currently permits dual citizenship.
He argued that under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, particularly in sections 6 and 15, along with relevant international conventions, Quebecers have the legal right to Canadian citizenship even after Quebec becomes independent. St-Pierre Plamondon also raised concerns about potential discrimination against Quebecers in this regard, asserting that such discrimination would not hold in court.
