Staying Canadian
Canadians Have the Right to Remain Canadian
The Canadian Party of Quebec believes that Canadian citizenship, identity, and belonging cannot simply be taken away by a separatist government.
Quebecers are not merely residents of a province. We are Canadians. We are part of a country, a shared democracy, and a constitutional federation built by people and communities across Canada. If a separatist referendum threatens the unity of our country, Canadians living in Quebec must have the democratic right to choose whether they wish to remain in Canada.
Our Staying Canadian policy calls upon the federal government to act proactively in the event of a separatist referendum. Before any attempt is made to remove Quebec from Canada, the federal government must organize locally based referendums allowing municipalities and their residents to vote on whether they wish to remain within Canada.
A vote for separation should not permit the Government of Quebec to remove unwilling communities from Canada against their democratic will. Municipalities that vote to remain Canadian should have their decision recognized and protected by the federal government.
Our position is based on a simple democratic principle:
If Canada is divisible, so is Quebec.
Separatists cannot claim that Quebec has the right to leave Canada while denying communities within Quebec the right to remain. The right of self determination cannot belong exclusively to the Government of Quebec. It must also belong to the people whose citizenship, rights, and future would be directly affected.
The Canadian Party of Quebec will advocate for:
- A clear federal framework protecting the right of Canadians in Quebec to remain in Canada
- Locally based referendums in municipalities before any separation can take effect
- Federal recognition of municipalities that vote to remain Canadian
- Protection of Canadian citizenship, Charter rights, bilingualism, and equal access to federal institutions
- Negotiations that respect the democratic choices of Indigenous peoples and local communities
- A firm commitment that no Canadian community should be forced out of Canada without its consent
Canada belongs to its people. No provincial government should have the unilateral power to take away our country, our citizenship, our home, or our future.
We are Canadians, and we have the right to stay Canadian.
