The CAQ government’s proposed constitution, known as Bill 1, is receiving criticism from legal scholars who argue that it would limit rights, and make it more difficult to challenge laws in court.

The legislation would establish “founding principles” such as equality of men and women, French as the official language of Quebec, and a rejection of “Canadian multiculturalism”. It would also allow the government to reject the symbols of the monarchy and change the lieutenant governor position to one appointed by the premier.

Constitutional lawyer Julius Grey told the Montreal Gazette that by banning the use of tax dollars to contest laws in court, the government is attempting to limit legal challenges from groups like English school boards or English-majority municipalities.

“The government is trying to stop that. That means nobody will be able to fight, except for a few very wealthy people,” he said.

QS MNA leaves party to sit as independent

Québec Solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal quit his party on Saturday in a hastily-called press conference, to sit as an independent. The move came as his party was voting to remove him, due to apparent secret meetings he had with the Parti Québécois about switching parties.

“The problem is we cannot bring this party to rationality,” he said at the conference, according to the Montreal Gazette. “It is a party paralyzed by its base. There is a huge disconnect between the caucus and its base. I aspire to something other than being an eternal opposition.”

Quebec Solidaire’s co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau Dubois resigned this spring, stating at the time that he was “worn out” by internal party struggles.

CAQ provides economic update Tuesday Nov. 24

The governing CAQ party’s finance minister Eric Girard provided the public with an economic update on Tuesday, Nov. 24. According to La Presse, with the title “Protecting Our Purchasing Power and Our Economy,” the document is predicted to target Quebecers struggling with the cost of living, and sectors impacted by the tariffs, including the forestry industry. Premier Legault made headlines earlier this month when he suggested that half of the forestry jobs in the province (30,000) could disappear. Minister Girard already said earlier this year that the government has no intention of lowering the tax on gasoline, a demand of Quebec’s Conservative Party leader.

The budget in March projected a deficit of $13.6 billion, and this update will provide an updated figure.

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