Quebec Constitution: Jolin-Barette tables amendments

The Legault government is removing irritants from its Bill 1, its constitution of Quebec, after it was rejected by all opposition parties at the vote on principle stage on Wednesday. 

Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette announced amendments to address the criticisms he received.

In particular, he intends to remove the article that would prohibit organizations from using public funds to finance legal challenges to certain fundamental laws, such as the law on French as an official language and the law on secularism. 

The Legault government is removing contentious provisions from its draft Quebec constitution.

In particular, he intends to remove the provision that would prohibit organizations from using public funds to finance legal challenges to certain fundamental laws, such as the Official French Language Act and the Secularism Act.

Jolin-Barrette also wants to add a collective right to the environment to his draft constitution.

The principle of Bill 1 was adopted in the House on Wednesday morning, with 68 votes in favour and 31 against, with one abstention. 

All CAQ members present in the House voted in favour, while all opposition parties voted against, including the Liberal Party, Québec solidaire and the Parti québécois. 

Independent MNA Pierre Dufour, formerly of the CAQ, abstained, while independent MNA Maïté Blanchette Vézina, also formerly with the CAQ but now associated with the Conservative Party of Quebec, voted in favour.  

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews