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Last week, the Quebec Liberal Party’s policy committee proposed adopting a written constitution to unify Quebecers, assert Quebec’s status as a nation within Canada and pave the way for a new vision of federalism.

Liberals have been debating the idea of a Quebec constitution since 1967. It was proposed in a 2001 report on a new vision for the party by former Liberal minister Benoît Pelletier, voted on by the QLP’s youth wing in 2019 and recommended by the Committee for the Revival of the QLP in 2023.

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In each instance, the goal was to establish a foundational law that would affirm who we are and what unites us, regardless of our language, faith and political convictions.

However, some, including Gazette columnist Robert Libman (“A ‘Quebec constitution’? Terrible idea,” Aug. 17), have raised concerns about the risks associated with such a project. Chief among these concerns is the fear that a constitution would divide Quebecers rather than unite us.

A constitution would do the opposite.

It would reinforce our sense of belonging to Quebec by clearly laying out our shared values and aspirations. It would strengthen the ties that bind us by offering a vision with which Quebecers from all walks of life could identify and support.

In a context in which the CAQ government accuses those who disagree with its policies of opposing Quebec values and the Quebec nation, offering a unifying project that includes every Quebecer is more important than ever.

Moreover, with a constitution, anglo Quebecers and other minority groups would have a robust safeguard against any further attempt to question or trample their rights.

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Another concern Libman raises is the risk of mixed messaging, which he says has tripped up Liberals in the past.

Liberals have been unclear about their positions on language, secularism and other identity-related issues in recent years. This time, however, they are clear on what their position is.

They’re offering a vision that fosters an inclusive sense of belonging to Quebec while protecting rights and freedoms, which is the very essence of what it means to be a Quebec Liberal.

Libman also argues that a constitution is not a priority and Liberals should focus instead on bread-and-butter issues.

This argument rests on a false dilemma. You don’t have to choose between a constitution, the economy or health care. It’s possible to address these issues simultaneously. In other words, we can chew gum and walk at the same time.

Liberals believe that political parties must address the real concerns of preserving the French language, integrating newcomers into Quebec and protecting anglo Quebecers’ rights to public services in English.

Finally, Libman says the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms has been overridden numerous times, depending on the government’s political agenda.

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It is worth pointing out that the Quebec charter, adopted under a Liberal government in 1975, already has a quasi-constitutional status. It also includes a notwithstanding clause allowing the government to enact legislation restricting certain rights and freedoms.

Though using this clause in some contexts can be legitimate, governments should never use it for the sole purpose of making political gains or simply because it’s “popular.”

Unfortunately, the CAQ government has done this with Bills 21 and 96. In each case, the reasons invoked for using the notwithstanding clause were not based on sound evidence, but rather on the fact that the majority supported the legislation, which is not a valid reason to use such an exceptional clause.

A constitution would better regulate the use of the notwithstanding clause by including more robust criteria for such use. It would further clarify when, how and how long governments can use the notwithstanding clause to avoid excesses, thus adding important protections for anglo Quebecers and minorities.

More than ever, Quebecers need a unifying project establishing the foundation for an inclusive vision of Quebec within Canada. For the Quebec Liberals, this vision is embodied in a Quebec constitution.

Antoine Dionne Charest is vice-president of the Quebec Liberal Party’s policy committee and a public affairs consultant who has contributed to political history books, including Legacy: How French Canadians Shaped North America (2016) and Canada Always: The Defining Speeches of Sir Wilfrid Laurier (2016).

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