Quebec party would override Rights Charter

The leader of one of the parties running for office in the province of Quebec says that if elected, she would override the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to pass a law forbidding public officials from wearing religious symbols at work.

Parti Quebecois Leader and incumbent Premier Pauline Marois made her so-called secular charter one of the main planks of her election campaign, appealing to rural voters who have less contact with immigrant populations and often buy into the party’s stated goal of protecting Quebec’s unique French identity. Many Quebecers fear their language and culture is at risk given the sea of English around them.

Should the secular charter be passed, it’s widely believed it would be challenged in court on the grounds that Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of religion. However provinces have the option of using a “notwithstanding” clause want to override it, and Quebec governments have used it before.

PQ looking for a fight, says Liberal leader

The leader of the Liberal Party says Marois is trying to create a political crisis with the federal government to raise support for making Quebec an independent nation, separate from Canada, which is a fundamental goal of her party.

At the beginning of the election campaign, public opinion polls put the Parti Quebecois in the lead with a majority of voter support. It later dropped to second place behind the Liberals after a star candidate trumpeted his goal of separating Quebec from Canada, the sooner, the better.

Secular charter, separation are major issues

In a televised debate between party leaders, Marois was repeatedly asked whether she would hold a referendum on sovereignty. She repeatedly responded there would be no referendum until Quebecers were ready for one. Polls indicate 60 per cent of Quebecers do not want another referendum. Two previous one were lost by the sovereigntists, the last one by a razor-thin margin.

The election will be on April 7. Marois is the current premier of Quebec leading a minority government and called the election to try to win a majority.