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Quebec’s new premier promised to fight “tooth and nail” to defend the use of the notwithstanding clause as she met with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on Friday.<\/p>\n
Christine Fr\u00e9chette said the clause, which allows governments to override sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, must not be touched.<\/p>\n
“It’s an important tool for Quebec, for our nation,” she said ahead of the meeting.<\/p>\n
Quebec has made use of the clause in recent years to shield several pieces of legislation from court challenges, including its secularism law that bans certain public servants from wearing religious symbols at work.<\/p>\n
Fr\u00e9chette’s reaction came after federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser expressed concern over provinces’ use of the notwithstanding clause and suggested it should be regulated.<\/p>\n
Carney was all smiles ahead of his meeting with Fr\u00e9chette, which happened less than 48 hours after the 55-year-old was sworn in as Quebec premier<\/a>.<\/p>\n She assumed the province’s top job after winning the Coalition Avenir Qu\u00e9bec leadership race following Fran\u00e7ois Legault’s decision to resign.<\/p>\n Carney said their discussion would include immigration, housing and major projects.<\/p>\n “You come here with the sunny weather, a strong mandate and a full agenda,” Carney told her.<\/p>\n Fr\u00e9chette noted that she’s worked with the federal government before, especially in her former role as Quebec immigration minister.<\/p>\n “I would say I have a history of working with and collaborating with the federal government,” she said, adding that their discussions had to happen with respect for the Quebec nation and its areas of jurisdiction.<\/p>\n With less than six months to the provincial election, Fr\u00e9chette is looking to demonstrate her brand of nationalism can secure gains from Ottawa.<\/p>\n Among Quebec’s demands from the federal government is a more equitable distribution of asylum seekers across the country.<\/p>\n