Nationalists tell Ottawa to butt out of case

Petition says sovereignty not an issue for the courts

A group of Quebec nationalists has launched a petition to pressure the Trudeau government to withdraw from a 16-year-old court case about the province’s right to self-determination.

And they want Premier Philippe Couillard’s government to go to bat for the province in the case, which may proceed in Quebec Superior Court in March after many, many delays.

“Ottawa did not want to hear Quebec’s voice — even a unanimous voice,” Bloc Québécois MP Michel Boudrias said at a Montreal news conference held Tuesday to announce he will sponsor the petition (loi99.com), to be launched on the House of Commons website.

“In this 150th year of the dominion, Quebec should not allow itself to be so insulted.

“Beyond the debate between sovereignists and federalists, it’s a question of national interest which requires us to show solidarity. I invite everyone to sign this petition.”

The case dates back to 2000, when Stéphane Dion, then a minister in Jean Chrétien’s government, steered the Clarity Act through the Commons.

That act gave Parliament the power to judge whether a sovereignty referendum yielded a clear majority on a clear question.

With Lucien Bouchard in the premier’s chair, Quebec responded by adopting Bill 99, which declared the Quebec people alone can determine the political regime and legal status of the province.

It specified a majority of 50 per cent plus one is enough for victory in a referendum.

By 2001, Keith Henderson, head of the now-defunct English-rights Equality Party, launched a challenge to Bill 99.

The case languished until 2013, when Stephen Harper’s government applied to obtain intervenor status.

That prompted politicians at the National Assembly to adopt a unanimous motion denouncing Ottawa’s meddling in the case and called on it to withdraw.

Boudrias announced the Bloc Québécois has teamed up with the Parti Québécois, Québec solidaire, the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the co-founder of the old Action démocratique du Québec, Jean Allaire, in launching the petition.

They said Quebec sovereignty is essentially a political matter and the courts should stay out.

Reached later on Tuesday, Henderson urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not to cave in under pressure.

“I just hope he lives up to his father’s reputation and does nothing,” Henderson said in a phone interview.

“I hope he sticks to his guns and doesn’t listen to these people and defends Stéphane Dion’s legacy.”

As of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 156 people had signed the petition.

Boudrias said they have not set a target for the number of signatures.