(English) Quebec’s relationship to Canada includes question of Canada’s relationship to monarchy

Letter to the Editor by Duff Conacher, Coordinator of Your Canada, Your Constitution, August 31, 2021

Parti Québecois leader Pauline Marois has made it clear that her party supports removing the monarchy as the head of state for Canada, among a few other changes the PQ wants in Québec’s relationship and power sharing with Canada.

To ensure voters have key information for deciding who to vote in next week’s election, the media should ask Ms Marois whether the PQ would patriate Canada’s Constitution if these conditions were met.

And the media should ask the leaders of the other provincial parties whether they also support ending Canada’s ties with the monarych, and what other changes they would like to see in the relationship and power sharing before they would pass a resolution in the provincial assembly approving of the patriation of Canada’s Constitution.

Voters have a right to know before they vote. According to a national survey commissioned by Your Canada, Your Constitution in May, 76 per cent of Quebecers and 52 per cent of Canadians overall want the monarchy removed as Canada’s head of state, and two-thirds of Canadians want changes to clarify and restrict the powers of the Governor General and provincial lieutenant governors, and to select them through an election.

This letter appeared in the Toronto Star and Charlottetown Guardian.