Quebec tables draft constitution to affirm its ‘distinct national character,’ premier says

MontrealThe constitution, filed at the National Assembly on Thursday and lambasted by opposition parties as a piece of political theatre filed without proper consultation, includes language asserting Quebec’s “constitutional autonomy,” and lists its “founding principles.”Premier says constitution will be the ‘law of laws’CBC News · Posted: Oct 09, 2025 11:35 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoQuebec’s new constitution will be the ‘law of laws,’ according to the premier. (Sylvain Roy Roussel/CBC/Radio-Canada)The Quebec government has deposited a draft of a proposed provincial constitution which the premier says will “affirm Quebec’s distinct national character.” The constitution, filed at the National Assembly on Thursday and lambasted by opposition parties as a piece of political theatre filed without proper consultation, includes language asserting Quebec’s “constitutional autonomy,” and lists its “founding principles.”Among the founding principles are state protection of the equality of men and women, French as the province’s official language and the rejection of “Canadian multiculturalism” in favour of a “national integration” model.“Quebec has made the choice to stay inside Canada but it has also made the choice to affirm its distinct national character,” Premier François Legault said. Legault added that the constitution respects the rights of Indigenous people and the institutions of English-speaking Quebecers.Quebec’s culture and language are threatened in North America, he says, adding that the government must ensure their survival for future generations.Legault says the draft constitution is the culmination of all the measures his government has taken to strengthen Quebec values, including the secularism law and the French language reform.But the Liberal Opposition says the government failed to consult with them and that a constitution should reflect all Quebecers.The bill comes as Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec party is lagging in the polls ahead of a provincial election scheduled for October 2026.With files from The Canadian Press