Hundreds of groups urge Quebec government to scrap controversial constitution

Hundreds of organizations across the province are calling on the government to scrap its proposed constitution. Critics say the process has been flawed from the start.

In a show of solidarity, a handful of Quebec community groups, unions and organizations gathered in Quebec City Tuesday, united in their opposition to Quebec’s proposed constitution, known as Bill 1.

“There are up to 800 different organizations that are asking the CAQ government to just pull out of this constitution,” said Caroline Senneville, CSN president. “It’s been flawed from the beginning.”

The CAQ’s constitution is intended to protect Quebec’s distinct identity and culture while boosting the province’s autonomy within Canada.

It outlines a set of “founding principles,” including secularism, equality between men and women and the status of French as the only common language of Quebec.

But some organizations say such a bill needs consultations — and they came too late to make a real difference.

“A constitution is supposed to rally up the population behind a really important project, and this is obviously not what it’s doing. It’s putting division in the society,” Senneville said.

Political opposition is also weighing in.

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard says it’s time the government abandons the bill.