Dear Editor,
While we have been preoccupied thinking about municipal elections, the CAQ government has quietly introduced Bill 1, the “Quebec Constitution Act”. While it has sparked conversations about language and national identity, the deeper implications have not yet reached most people. This bill does not simply refine jurisdiction or reaffirm cultural values – it restructures the very foundation of how government power is held accountable. This goes well beyond a language issue. This is an issue of fundamental rights. It affects every person in Quebec.
Bill 1 would make it much harder for people to speak up or get help if the government does something that hurts their rights. It establishes a constitutional framework with no accessible process for amendment. It places the collective rights of the so called “Quebec nation” above the rights of individual Quebecers, even replacing the MNAs’ current oath to serve the Quebec people with an oath to serve the Quebec nation. It severely restricts the ability for collective entities to challenge new laws, imposing punishment on those who try. In simple terms: if the government oversteps, it would be much harder for regular people to push back. A constitution, by definition, should protect us, not place itself beyond our reach.
This bill would also pull Quebec out of federal programs that help pay for services like healthcare, education, and community programs. These aren’t distant budget lines – this is the funding that keeps our hospitals running, helps schools hire staff, improves infrastructure, and supports the local services and programs many of us rely on. If this funding disappears, our communities will feel it.
Another issue that has not received enough attention is what’s missing from Bill 1. The bill does not include any mention of basic rights to healthcare, education, public safety, or affordable housing, things Quebecers consistently say are among their top priorities.
These concerns are just the tip of the iceberg. Regardless of opinion on the various details of the bill, we would urge everyone to take it one step further and question if this truly reflects what a constitution should be. Does a massive piece of legislation, one that gives the government sweeping power over every aspect of the management of Quebec while shuttering any tangible connection to the federal government, reflect the values of Quebecers? Given that the bill was introduced without any public consultation, we doubt so.
This isn’t just about English vs. French or political identity. It’s about basic fairness, transparency, and making sure that individual people still have rights and a voice.
If this worries you even a little, we encourage you to reach out to your local MNA. Ask them to explain how people will be protected under this new system. Ask them what happens to funding for our communities. Ask them how regular citizens will have a say in decisions that affect their daily lives.
Democracy only works when we use it. Bill 1 deserves close attention, and it’s okay to say that this isn’t the direction we want for our communities. Let’s remind this government that we have our eyes wide open.
Alina Holmes, Executive Director
Chad Bean, President
Regional Association of West Quebecers
Outaouais, QC
