Couillard says now is the right time to resume constitutional discussion
QUEBEC — Canada’s “historic” 150th birthday is the right moment to resume constitutional discussions, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard told The Canadian Press in an interview.
Couillard, a staunch federalist, committed to reopening constitutional dialogue on Thursday, with the long-term goal of restarting negotiations that could lead to Quebec finally approving the 1982 Constitution.
The premier said while the issue took a backseat to economy, finances and healthcare for the first half of his mandate, he would have been disappointed had his first term finished without tackling the subject of Quebec-Canada relations.
“That’s why we were elected, but also to do things like this, to have proposed to Quebecers and Canadians — but to Quebecers above all — the affirmation of who we are and a path to regain contact with the rest of country, that’s a part of the full job of a premier for me,” Couillard said.