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Québec City – As the National Assembly reconvenes following François Legault’s resignation and the launch of the CAQ leadership race, a number of organizations are urging the CAQ government to set aside those of its legislative proposals that would undermine the rule of law. Regardless of any political instability, the government has a responsibility to take concrete action in order to improve working people’s lives and make a real difference to Quebecers. With the election only months away, the CAQ government no longer has the legitimacy to go ahead with bills that divide Québec society. It must put an end to a worrisome move towards authoritarianism that involves repeated threats to countervailing powers. This is the message being unanimously put forward by the CSN, the CSQ, the FTQ, the CSD, the APTS, the FAE, the FIQ, the SFPQ and the SPGQ.

Premier François Legault’s resignation on January 14 was an acknowledgement of failure that came only a few months after a cabinet reshuffle that was supposed to relaunch his government. As it turned out, the changes to his cabinet led to multiple legislative proposals that have given rise to great concern, to the point where the Québec Bar Association and the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ) have publicly criticized the government’s authoritarian turn and threats to the rule of law. 

Today, labour organizations are therefore asking the government to withdraw the bills that jeopardize rights, including Bill 1 and Bill 9. Removal of the section on optional dues in the labour minister’s Bill 3 on the functioning of unions is particularly important. The government still has a few months in which to change course and deliver results in areas where needs are acute. It must recentre its priorities on those of Quebecers by responding to the homelessness and housing crises, curbing the runaway cost of living, and improving access to public services.

“Assaults on countervailing powers have unfortunately become the CAQ government’s trademark over the last few months,” said spokespersons for the labour organizations. “François Legault’s departure has given this government one final opportunity to change course. By turning on countervailing powers, Mr. Legault was playing his last card in a bid to revive a floundering government. We now know that this led to a dead end. The government needs to acknowledge that fact, stop weakening the rule of law, and focus on measures that can have a real and long-lasting impact on people’s lives.”

SOURCES: CSN, CSQ, FTQ, CSD, APTS, FAE, FIQ, SFPQ and SPGQ