Issue
Federalism & Quebec
The balance of powers between Ottawa and the provinces under sections 91 and 92 of the Constitution Act, 1867. Quebec's distinct-society and language sovereignty (recognized in law since the Constitutional Amendment Proclamation, 1987 but never constitutionally entrenched), the use of the notwithstanding clause (section 33 of the Charter) by Quebec on Bill 21 in 2019 and Bill 96 in 2022, and the Alberta and Saskatchewan First Acts (provincial sovereignty statutes from 2022-2023) are the most active flashpoints. Federal-provincial fiscal arrangements (Bill C-46 of 2023 distributed the $2 billion health top-up from the February 2023 First Ministers' Meeting), the federal Building Canada Act of 2025 (which lets cabinet fast-track projects of national interest), the Carney government's 2025 removal of the federal consumer carbon tax, and the 2025-2026 carbon-tax-administration refusals by Saskatchewan and New Brunswick all turn on this axis.
Where parties stand
Compare side-by-side- Bloc QuébécoisBLOC
Defining issue. Advocates for Quebec sovereignty over the long term and full Quebec opt-out from federal programs with unconditional transfers in the meantime. Opposes federal use of the spending power in areas of provincial jurisdiction.
Source The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) under Premier Francois Legault is a nationalist autonomist party (not separatist), seeking greater Quebec powers within the Canadian federation without holding a sovereignty referendum. Passed Bill 21 (Loi sur la laicite de l'Etat, R.S.Q. 2019, c. 12, using the section 33 notwithstanding clause to insulate from Charter challenges), Bill 96 (CAQ French-language reform extending Bill 101, R.S.Q. 2022, c. 14, also using the notwithstanding clause), and the Loi sur les renseignements de sante (Law 25 privacy regime). Demands full Quebec immigration authority and a constitutional recognition of the Quebec nation under the November 2021 federal recognition motion that the Trudeau government supported.
Source- Conservative Party of CanadaCONSERVATIVE
Generally favours greater provincial autonomy, particularly on resource and energy policy. Supports allowing provinces to opt out of federal social programs with full compensation. Opposes federal use of the notwithstanding clause but does not advocate constitutional limits on provincial use.
Source The federal Green Party supports a cooperative-federalism framework recognizing Quebec's distinct status while maintaining federal social-program delivery in all provinces. Voted in favour of the November 2021 House of Commons motion recognizing Quebec as a nation. Supports Quebec's Bill 21 (Loi sur la laicite de l'Etat) court challenges before the Supreme Court of Canada under Charter section 33 notwithstanding-clause review, opposes the federal pattern of asymmetrical federal-provincial bilateral agreements (the Greens argue universality should be preserved), defends federal employment-insurance jurisdiction over Quebec workers, and supports stronger Indigenous-federal-provincial tripartite governance models in Quebec.
Source- Liberal Party of CanadaLIBERAL
Frames Canada as a partnership of co-operative federalism. Maintains the equalization formula, defends federal jurisdiction over carbon pricing and child care, and recognizes Quebec as a 'nation within a united Canada' without changes to the Constitution Act.
Source The federal NDP under Jagmeet Singh supports a cooperative-federalism framework that recognizes Quebec's distinct status while maintaining federal social-program delivery in Quebec where it complements provincial services. Voted in favour of the November 2021 Commons motion recognizing Quebec as a nation. Opposes the Trudeau-Carney Liberal pattern of asymmetrical federal-provincial healthcare and child-care bilateral agreements that the NDP says weaken federal-program universality. Defends federal employment-insurance jurisdiction over Quebec workers, opposes Quebec separatism, and pushes for stronger Indigenous-federal-provincial tripartite governance models including in Quebec.
SourceThe Parti Québécois is the legislative arm of the Quebec sovereignty movement. Founded in 1968 by René Lévesque, it held the two referendums on sovereignty in 1980 (40.4 percent Yes) and 1995 (49.4 percent Yes). Current leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon has committed to holding a third referendum within a first PQ mandate if elected. Defends the Civil Code, Bill 101, and asymmetric federalism within Canada until such a vote.
Source- Saskatchewan PartySK PARTY
The Saskatchewan Party under Premier Scott Moe passed the Saskatchewan First Act (S.S. 2023, c. 56) asserting provincial constitutional authority over natural resources and electricity-grid policy, which the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations has challenged on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 grounds. Joins Alberta's Smith UCP and Ontario's Ford PC in opposing the federal carbon-pricing backstop and the Clean Electricity Regulations. Calls for equalization-formula reform that better reflects the contribution of oil-and-gas-producing provinces.
Source The Alberta UCP government under Premier Danielle Smith passed the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act (S.A. 2022, c. A-39.5) giving Alberta Cabinet authority to declare federal initiatives unconstitutional and direct provincial entities not to enforce them, joined the Saskatchewan First Act framework, supports significant equalization-formula reform that better reflects oil-and-gas-producing province contributions (Alberta has been a net contributor to equalization every year except briefly in the 1960s; the 2021 Alberta-referendum vote of 61.7 percent in favour of removing equalization from the constitution was symbolic), and supports the Pension Plan Information Act framework toward a potential Alberta Pension Plan replacing CPP.
Source
Bills affecting this issue
- Bill 250Provincial44th Parliament of OntarioIn committee
More Homes, Built Faster (Continuation) Act
Continues the Ford government's pattern of centralizing municipal planning powers at the provincial level.
- Bill 7Municipal31st Legislature of AlbertaSecond reading
Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act amendment
Amends the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act after the 2024 Supreme Court reference clarified its limits.
- Bill 50Provincial31st Legislature of AlbertaIn committee
Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act (Amendments)
Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act amendments.
- S-6Federal45-1In committee
A fourth Act to harmonize federal law with the civil law of Quebec and to amend certain Acts in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law
Fourth Federal-Civil Law Harmonization Act for Quebec.
- Bill 137 (SaskFirst)Provincial30th Legislature of SaskatchewanSecond reading
Saskatchewan First Act Amendments
Strengthens the 2023 Saskatchewan First Act mechanisms for asserting provincial jurisdiction.
- Bill 38Provincial31st Legislature of AlbertaRoyal assent
Alberta Pension Plan Information Act
Alberta Pension Plan information framework. Effectively pauses Premier Smith's CPP-withdrawal proposal until at least 2027.
- S-240Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (declaration of exception pursuant to subsection 33(1) of the Charter for mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual abuse and exploitation material offences)
Procedural rules around invocation of section 33 of the Charter (the notwithstanding clause) reach federal-provincial tension.
- C-245Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Canadian Multiculturalism Act (non-application in Quebec)
Bloc bill: non-application of Canadian Multiculturalism Act in Quebec.
- S-218Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1982 (notwithstanding clause)
Procedural Senate bill on the notwithstanding clause (s.33 of the Charter).
- Bill 18Provincial31st Legislature of AlbertaRoyal assent
Provincial Priorities Act
Provincial Priorities Act: lets Alberta refuse or modify federal-provincial agreements.
- Bill 31Provincial31st Legislature of AlbertaRoyal assent
Provincial Priorities Act
Provincial Priorities Act. Lets Alberta refuse or modify federal-provincial agreements (housing, health, infrastructure) it considers federal overreach.
- C-390Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (provincial medical assistance in dying framework)
Conservative bill letting provinces opt out of the federal MAID framework.
- C-354Federal44-1In committee
An Act to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities)
Requires the CRTC to factor Quebec's cultural distinctiveness and French-language minority communities into broadcasting decisions.
- S-11Federal44-1First reading
A fourth Act to harmonize federal law with the civil law of Quebec and to amend certain Acts in order to ensure that each language version takes into account the common law and the civil law
Fourth Federal Law - Civil Law Harmonization Act. Aligns federal statutes with Quebec's Civil Code vocabulary.
- Projet de loi 96Provincial42e législature du QuébecRoyal assent
Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec
Quebec's Bill 96 invokes the notwithstanding clause to insulate parts of the law from Charter challenges.
- C-246Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (representation in the House of Commons)
Constitutionally guarantees Quebec at least 25% of Commons seats.