Quebec appoints Patrick Taillon as special advisor for composing the province's new constitution.
A new ball is rolling in Quebec as the Legault government taps constitutional lawyer Patrick Taillon to draft a constitution for the province. Taillon, bracing for another "constitutional failure" at all costs, is aiming for a swift result before the 2026 general elections.
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette has his work cut out, crafting a text that's both unifying and speedy. He may have to shelve some ambitions, according to Taillon, who's known as a "reference" for this type of job.
"The best is the enemy of the good," Taillon told our site. In his role as special advisor, he won't be writing the Quebec Constitution single-handed, but he does aim to influence the process.
Taillon's appointment follows Premier François Legault's January mandate, giving Jolin-Barrette the green light to draft a constitution for Quebec. Armed with the recommendations of the Proulx-Rousseau committee on Quebec's constitutional issues within the Canadian federation, Jolin-Barrette now has a roadmap.
In November 2024, the Proulx-Rousseau committee proposed the drafting of a constitutional text specific to Quebec as the government's top priority. This text should define Quebec's characteristics, create Quebec citizenship, and outline national symbols. However, high on the priority list is the urgency of the situation. With less than a year and a half before the general elections, the clock is ticking, and Jolin-Barrette needs to choose his battles wisely.
"Sometimes, it's better to stay focused on the essential," Taillon noted. To make the project politically, technically, and socially realistic, he might have to leave certain aspects for another day.
Taillon is not new to constitutional debates; he was a player during the reform of family law, serving as a special advisor, much like his current role. His goal is clear: to prevent another Quebec constitutional failure.
He's got his work cut out, given the province's tumultuous history with constitutional ambitions, dating back to the Quiet Revolution. He urges Jolin-Barrette to ensure widespread support for the text to avoid the same fate as Chile's new constitution, which was rejected by referendum in 2023. Collaboration, dialogue, and legal expertise will be key to achieving a successful outcome.
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[1] Stein, R. (2022, March 4). Quebec faces off against Canada's federal government as it pushes for bill-21 to protect secularism. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https:// Globalnews.ca/news/8508133/quebec-secularism-bill-21-constitutional/
[2] CTV News. (2023, January 16). Political shifts in Canada: Quebec's new government & a possible resurfacing of sovereignty. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.5998232.1663507753!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg
[3] Government of Quebec. (n.d.). Quebeccitizen.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://quebeccitizen.gouv.qc.ca/en/
[4] Government of Quebec. (n.d.). Charter of the French Language. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/ShowDoc/cs/C-61.01#s348
- Despite the French-speaking Quebec government implementing the controversial Bill-21 to protect secularism, there is still a constitutional concern, as seen in the rejected Chilean constitution in 2023.
- Taking advice from constitutional expert Patrick Taillon, who had previously served as a special advisor on family law reform, the current Legault government aims to draft a constitution for Quebec without iterating the mistakes of the past.
- Apart from general news, a French policy-and-legislation focus urges the consideration of Taillon's warnings about balancing unification, speed, and nationalistic aspects in the constitution draft without neglecting the essential.
- Curiously, there's more than Quebec politics at play; a study found that creatine supplements might help improve brain function during depression periods, potentially providing an "extra" energy boost.
