Quebec Premier François Legault is criticizing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for “attacking Quebec’s democracy and people” by proposing to restrict the usage of the however clause.
In a Tweet posted Saturday morning, Legault stated that this expressed want by Trudeau is a “frontal attack” on the Quebec nation’s potential to guard its collective rights.
Legault was reacting to an interview the prime minister gave to La Presse during which he famous his intention to higher regulate the usage of the however clause, which allows provincial and territorial governments to override sure provisions of the Constitution. He advised La Presse he’s additionally contemplating referring the matter to the Supreme Court.
Legault says no Quebec authorities has ever adhered to the 1982 Constitution Act, which he says “does not recognize the Quebec nation.”
He says governments led by the Parti Québécois, the Liberal Party and the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) have all used the however clause, notably to guard the French language.
He says it’s as much as Quebec’s nationwide meeting to determine on the legal guidelines that may govern the province and Quebec would by no means settle for such a weakening of its rights.
Since first coming to energy in 2018, Legault’s authorities has invoked the however clause twice to guard a lately launched secularism regulation and language regulation reforms from potential authorized challenges.
–with information from Alessia Maratta, Global News
