The Legault government is removing “irritants” from Bill 1 — its proposed Quebec constitution — after all opposition parties voted against it at the principle stage on Wednesday. Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette announced amendments responding to criticism raised during recent hearings at the parliamentary committee. He said he is “convinced” that, in the end, the government “will have the support of opposition colleagues,” even though the principle vote sent the opposite signal. Speaking to reporters, he acknowledged that discussions are continuing with First Nations, which have strongly opposed the draft legislation. Among the amendments, Jolin-Barrette plans to withdraw the article that would have prohibited organizations from using public funds to challenge certain laws of a fundamental nature in court, such as the law on French as the official language and the law on state secularism. He also said unions and community groups would not be added to the list of public bodies to which the constitutional law would apply. Jolin-Barrette also wants to add a collective right to the environment to the proposed constitution, as well as protections for academic freedom in universities. “By elevating this collective right (to the environment) into the constitution, we give it precedence over other Quebec laws and, in doing so, strengthen its protection,” the minister said. Could that right be invoked to block industrial projects or the construction of a dam, for example? “The right is applied in accordance with the provisions set out in the law,” Jolin-Barrette replied. The constitution would also recognize in its preamble the existence of an English-speaking community in Quebec and its established rights. The government will also add a full section on language planning to “further highlight the role of the state in protecting the status of French” as the official and common language. The “need for differentiated treatment of the French language” within the federation will be written into the preamble. Clarifications will also be added regarding Quebec’s international role. “There were irritants in the bill, I’m taking them out, and I’m telling the opposition: ‘Come sit with me in the parliamentary committee. We’re going to work together to give Quebec a constitution,’” he said. He is aiming to have the large bill adopted before the end of the legislature in June and to secure the support of at least one opposition party to give it greater legitimacy. But he later received a worrying signal in the legislature. While the principle of Bill 1 passed Wednesday morning, with 68 in favour, 31 against and one abstention, all opposition parties voted against it — the Liberals, Québec solidaire and the Parti québécois. All CAQ members present voted in favour. Independent MNA Pierre Dufour, a former CAQ member, abstained, while independent MNA Maïté Blanchette Vézina — also formerly CAQ but now aligned with the Quebec Conservative Party — voted in favour. The 40-page bill now goes to the parliamentary committee for detailed, article-by-article study. Essentially, the proposed constitution aims to protect laws considered fundamental to Quebec, such as the law on French as the official language, the law on state secularism, the law on integration into the Quebec nation, and the Charter of the French Language. New laws could be added to the list. The constitution would strengthen equality between men and women by giving it precedence over freedom of religion in cases where the two principles come into conflict. It would protect Quebecers’ right to access medical assistance in dying. The government is also proposing an amendment to the Constitution Act, 1867, to include “three new provisions reflecting Quebec’s fundamental characteristics: state secularism, the model of integration into the Quebec nation and the civil law tradition.” Other planned changes include replacing the title of lieutenant-governor with “officer of Quebec,” protecting the National Assembly’s power to use the notwithstanding clause, integrating an updated Gérin-Lajoie doctrine to bolster Quebec’s ability to act internationally, and giving Quebec a role in the appointment of senators and Supreme Court judges. The minister argues the proposal addresses a “historic anomaly,” noting that more than 100 federated states worldwide already have a constitution. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 1, 2026.
