Quebec's Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette has responded to what he calls "exaggerated and inaccurate" interpretations of Quebec's draft constitution, emphasizing that the document aims to strengthen Canada's federation rather than pursue independence.
Setting the Record Straight
In a detailed rebuttal published recently, Minister Jolin-Barrette addressed a front-page article from November 20 that suggested Quebec was preparing to unilaterally declare independence. The minister firmly denied these claims, stating they represent a fundamental misunderstanding of Quebec's constitutional intentions.
"Quebec's draft constitution in no way denies nor undermines Canada's status as a sovereign country," Jolin-Barrette wrote. Instead, he explained that the document describes the Canadian federation as originally conceived: a union of autonomous federated states where each level of government exercises powers within its own jurisdiction without subordination to the other.
Clarifying Federal-Provincial Relations
The Quebec minister challenged the notion that Ottawa holds "supreme authority" over provincial parliaments, pointing out that neither the Constitution Act of 1867 nor modern case law establishes a hierarchical relationship between federal and provincial governments.
Jolin-Barrette specifically addressed the "power of disallowance" mentioned in the original article, calling it an outdated clause that has fallen into disuse. The power was last used in 1943 and is now widely recognized as incompatible with both federalism and democratic principles.
Building Bridges, Not Walls
The core premise behind Quebec's draft constitution, according to the minister, is that strong provinces create a stronger federation. "Provinces never succeed as much as when they take all the places they are entitled to occupy within the federation," he stated. "And when the provinces thrive, the whole country benefits."
Rather than building walls or pursuing separation, Jolin-Barrette described the constitution's ambition as building a bridge between equals, founded on mutual respect, cooperation, and recognition within a modern federation.
The minister contextualized the constitutional initiative within Quebec's historical divisions over sovereignty, referencing multiple referenda, the unilateral patriation of the Constitution in 1982, and failed constitutional reforms that have deepened political wounds over the past 50 years.
The Quebec constitution was tabled on October 9 and proposes to move beyond the "all-or-nothing logic" that has characterized past debates. It invites Quebecers to make full use of existing tools and assert their identity without seeking permission to exist.
"We must occupy all the space that is rightfully ours," Jolin-Barrette concluded, emphasizing that Quebec's constitutional project aims to strengthen both the province and the Canadian federation through clearer definition of respective roles and responsibilities.
