The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government abandoned its bill to create a Quebec constitution on June 11 [2].
The decision ends a contentious legislative effort that sparked significant debate over the province's legal framework and its relationship with the Canadian state.
Justice Minister Simon Jolin‑Barrette led the announcement at the National Assembly in Quebec City [1]. The move came just one day before the National Assembly was scheduled to adjourn for the summer [3]. This timeline was critical, as the government had previously set a deadline of June 12, 2026, to finish the constitution draft [4].
The bill was part of a broader and divisive government agenda that included other controversial measures such as Bills 96, 21, and 84 [5]. Critics of the CAQ administration argued that these legislative efforts were designed to polarize the public. The abandonment of the constitution bill was met with cheers from some observers and opposition members.
Jolin‑Barrette expressed concern regarding the potential for political fallout following the decision. "It will be a disaster if the opposition parties decide to play partisan politics with the situation," Jolin‑Barrette said [6].
Government officials said that the bill could not be passed before the current session ended [5]. The CAQ had previously stated it would work overtime to meet the June 12 deadline, but the sudden reversal on June 11 suggests the government determined the legislative path was no longer viable before the recess [2, 4].
“The CAQ government abandoned its bill to create a Quebec constitution on June 11.”
The abandonment of the constitution bill reflects the CAQ government's struggle to balance nationalist aspirations with legislative reality. By dropping the bill alongside other divisive measures like Bill 96 and 21, the government avoids a high-profile legislative failure immediately before the summer break, though it leaves the province's constitutional status quo unchanged.
