The federal Conservatives joined the Bloc Québécois Monday to try and send a message to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that it is up to the provinces to decide how to use the notwithstanding clause.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet brought forward a motion in the House of Commons calling on MPs to recognize that provinces have a “legitimate right” to use the clause, including pre-emptively.
While Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his MPs supported the Bloc’s call, the governing Liberals and federal New Democrats defeated Blanchet’s motion in a vote of 174 to 142.
Following the vote, Blanchet issued a statement panning its defeat, saying the pre-emptive use of the provision is necessary for Quebec to assert its positions around language and identity….