Time running out for citizens who want to comment online
More than 16,000 responses left on provincial website
QUEBEC — Citizens wishing to comment on the Parti Québécois government’s proposed Charter of Quebec Values have until next Tuesday to do so on a provincial website.
On Sept. 10, when he announced the online consultation, Bernard Drainville, the PQ minister behind the charter, also presented an orientation document with a pictogram explanation of which “conspicuous” religious signs do not conform with Quebec values.
On Wednesday, he announced he is shutting down the consultation window to analyze the comments.
There have been more than 130,000 visits to the site, and more than 16,000 visitors have left comments.
“We have to draw the line somewhere, take the results and analyze them and then they will inspire us for the bill,” Drainville said in a brief interview Wednesday. “We have to tell people a bit in advance, ‘You have a few days left if you want to give us your comments.’
“People had three weeks and lot of people participated,” Drainville said, and the sounding will give “a pretty good idea of what the citizens think.”
“Do you have a comment?” the English version of the site invites Internauts. “Do not hesitate to send your comments to the Minister responsible for Democratic Institutions and Active Citizenship, M. Bernard Drainville.”
A poll conducted for The Gazette has found that 52 per cent of Quebecers support the proposed charter, with French-speakers, older and more-conservative people most in favour, while English-speaking and other nonfrancophones tend to be more frequently opposed.
The Gazette poll also indicated that 56 per cent of respondents believe the validity of the charter should be tested in the courts.
Asked whether he would consider asking the Quebec Court of Appeal, the highest court in the province, in a reference case, to rule on the constitutionality of his proposals, Drainville replied, “No.”
“At this time the citizens have their say,” he explained. “After that, we want the parliament to take a stand. We want parliament to consider the bill and that is the responsibility of those elected to do their jobs.”
The bill is to be presented in the fall sitting of the National Assembly, set to adjourn Dec. 6. The make a comment on the provincial government website about the charter, go to nosvaleurs.gouv.qc.ca/ en#faq