Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has announced his intention to defund the office of the lieutenant-governor and introduce legislation to sever Quebec’s ties with the British monarchy. St-Pierre Plamondon stated that a Parti Québécois government would eliminate any existing monarchy presence in Quebec and redirect the office’s $1.3 million budget towards addressing homelessness.
However, experts in constitutional law have raised doubts about the feasibility of this plan. Karine Millaire, a constitutional law expert from the Université de Montréal, emphasized that any unilateral action by the province would violate the constitution. Similarly, Jean-François Gaudreault-DesBiens, a law professor at the same university, highlighted the legal complexities involved in such a move.
The legal hurdles are further underscored by the requirement in Section 41(a) of the Constitution Act, 1982, which mandates approval from the House of Commons, the Senate, and all provincial legislatures for any changes to the office of the lieutenant-governor.
St-Pierre Plamondon, undeterred by these legal challenges, reiterated his commitment to removing the monarchy from Quebec and reallocating the funds to social causes. He estimated that Quebec contributes $12 million to $15 million annually to the Crown, funds that cannot be halted unless Quebec gains independence.
The Parti Québécois leader also pledged to break with tradition by requesting the lieutenant-governor not to attend the opening address of the new legislative session if elected. This move aligns with the party’s previous efforts to challenge constitutional norms regarding the monarchy, as seen in the recent elimination of the oath to the King for elected members.
Despite the PQ’s strong stance, legal experts caution that attempting to bypass the lieutenant-governor or diminish the office’s functions could jeopardize the validity of new legislation and lead to constitutional disputes. St-Pierre Plamondon’s determination to pursue these changes indicates a potential jurisdictional battle with the federal government in the future.
