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Quebec constitution: what the CAQ is proposing and how it could affect you 

A project that touches the very foundations of our province 

Last week, the CAQ government tabled Bill 1, the 2025 Quebec Constitution Act, in the National Assembly. 

The goal: to create a Quebec constitution, a document that would outline the province’s main principles, including its identity, language, values, and the way its institutions function. 

This is a first in Quebec’s recent history. Until now, only the Canadian Constitution defined the framework for our laws. 

The CAQ wants to add a “Quebec layer” to affirm that our province is a distinct nation with its own values: the French language, the secular nature of the state, and equality between women and men, among others. 

What the CAQ wants to do 

The government presents this constitution as a “mirror and shield” for Quebec. The bill aims to: 

• Protect certain rights, such as access to abortion and medical assistance in dying; 
• Affirm that French is the official and common language; 
• Create a Quebec Constitutional Council to oversee the application of the text; 
• Grant Quebec greater symbolic powers within the Canadian federation; and 
• Enshrine in law the sovereignty of the Quebec Parliament, meaning its right to pass laws even if they are challenged in Ottawa. 

Why it’s controversial 

The idea of a Quebec constitution is not, in itself, a bad one. Several political parties have supported the concept in the past. The problem lies in how the CAQ went about it. 

The government worked behind closed doors, without involving independent committees or consulting opposition parties, unions, First Nations, or the public. 

In other words, everything was done in secrecy, even though this document is meant to represent all Quebecers. 

This lack of transparency is what shocks many observers. For a government that has recently been emphasizing openness and dialogue, the contrast is striking. 

And that’s precisely what makes many people uneasy: how can we trust a constitution written by a single party, without public consultation, at the end of an electoral mandate? 

The positions of the main opposition parties 

Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ): supports the idea of a constitution, but denounces an “improvised and partisan” process; calls for broad and inclusive consultation. 

Parti Québécois (PQ): rejects the project, arguing that a provincial constitution makes no sense without independence. 

Québec solidaire (QS): criticizes the lack of democracy and worries that the text could limit citizens’ ability to challenge laws and weaken the courts. 

The unions’ perspective 

The Quebec Federation of Labour (QFL), to which SEU Local 800 is affiliated, shares these concerns. It does not oppose the idea of a Quebec constitution, but believes it is essential that the public, unions, and civil society be consulted before adopting such a fundamental law. 

The QFL and other labour federations fear that some provisions could reduce the ability of unions and citizen organizations to challenge laws in court, especially if those laws are deemed to “protect the Quebec nation.” 

In other words, the government could make it harder to defend your collective and individual rights. 

What this could mean for workers 

For now, nothing changes, it’s still only a bill, not a law. 
But in the long term, it could have several impacts: 

On your rights: if legal or union recourse is restricted, it will become harder to enforce your rights at work. 

On public institutions: transforming the Human Rights Commission into a “Nation’s Rights Commission” could change how complaints are handled. 

On social cohesion: a constitution imposed without dialogue risks dividing people rather than bringing them together. Yet solidarity is essential to improving working and living conditions. 

SEU Local 800’s position on the issue 

SEU Local 800 supports the idea of a public debate about Quebec’s future, but not a constitution imposed without genuine consultation. 

Workers have the right to be heard before the very foundations of Quebec are rewritten. 

Three principles are essential to us: 

1. An open and transparent consultation, including unions, First Nations, and civil society; 
2. Full protection of union rights and citizens’ ability to challenge laws; 
3. No institutional reforms that weaken the defense of individual rights. 

In summary 

This project raises important questions: 
Who defines our values? 
How do we protect our rights? 
And how can we make sure Quebec moves forward together, without leaving anyone behind? 

Before writing Quebec’s fundamental law, the CAQ government must listen to the people. Because a constitution cannot be imposed, it must be built collectively.