QUEBEC — The Quebec government says it has heard from the public on its controversial values charter — and is ready to adapt the plan as a result.
The government is hinting that any changes to the plan would only toughen it.
The Parti Quebecois’ Bernard Drainville says the government is reflecting on a pair of changes: removing the crucifix from the legislature, and reducing the opt-out provisions for institutions.
Those are the conclusions he’s drawing from the 26,000 comments posted on the PQ government’s website.
He says 47 per cent were entirely favourable of the plan, and 21 per cent were mostly favourable but wanted some changes.
Drainville lumped those two categories together and said that means 68 per cent favour the charter. He says only 18 per cent were opposed.
But he won’t release the comments. He says that would betray the trust of people who shared their stories and their opinions.
Drainville did read some of the complimentary ones, though, at a news conference today.
He also said that the main changes requested by commenters were that the crucifix be withdrawn from the legislature; opt-out provisions be tightened; and that the plan’s name be modified to “secularism charter.”