Jacques Parizeau, former PQ premier, slams charter of values

A strongly worded column by aformer Quebec premier andsovereigntisthas stirred debate over the already-controversialproposed charter of values.

• Charter of Quebec values would ban religious symbols for public workers

JacquesParizeau, a decades long and high-profilebacker of the sovereignty movement, wrote a column that appeared in Thursday morning's issueof the French newspaperLe JournaldeMontral that criticizeshis own party.

• CBC Archives:Jacques Parizeau: how I became a separatist

Parizeau served as premier fromSeptember 1994to January 1996,and nearly led Quebec to independence in 1995.

Hefamously blamed the failure of the referendum'syes-sideon"money" and the "ethnic votes."

• CBC Archives: Listen to Jacques Parizeau's infamous speech

Despite his history, Parizeauhad harsh words for the current PQ government, sayingit goes too far with its proposed ban on overt religious symbols for employees in the public sector.

I think when Mr.Parizeaubecomes a voice of moderation in the debate, thesovereigntistshave a real problem.- Justin Trudeau, Liberal Party leader

The ban would includekippas,hijabsand any larger-than-average crosses.

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who is firmlyagainst the charter, said he was glad to see a growing movement against it.

"I think when Mr. Parizeaubecomes a voice of moderation in the debate, thesovereigntistshave a real problem," Trudeau said.

"This charter, which discriminates against its citizens because of their religious beliefs, is absolutely unacceptable and more and more people are realizing that."

Fear of Islam to blame, Parizeau says

In his column, Parizeau writes that the separation of church and state in Quebec has long since been established, thanks totheQuiet Revolution in the 1960s.

He accuses the Quebec government of reacting to a growing fear of Islam and its spread.

"For the most part, the only contact that most Quebecers have with the world of Islam is through these images of violence, repeated over and over: wars, riots, bombs, the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Boston marathon ... The reaction is obvious: We'll have none of that here!" he writes in Le Journal.

Parizeausaidthat kind of approach solves nothing.

Instead, he suggests that the PQlimit its proposed charterto an affirmation of theseparation between church and state.

As for the controversy over the wearing of religious symbols, Parizeauwrites that the ban should only apply to police, prosecutors, judges and anyone in a position of authority.

"I wouldn'tgo any further than that for the time being."

Parizeau also criticizes the government's decision to leave the crucifix that hangs above the Speaker's chair in Quebec's national assembly.The government has defended its decision to keep the cross in place, saying it'spart of the province's history.

Parizeau writes, however: "And the crucifix at the national assembly? Let's hope that next summer, the Speaker of the national assembly, after consulting discreetly with the parties, will move it elsewhere in the building."

PQminister onParizeau's comments

Members of the Parti Qubcoiswere quick to react to Parizeau's comments this morning.

CBC's national assembly correspondent Shawn Lyons gathered reaction from PQ cabinet ministers and Premier Pauline Maroison Thursday morning.

Lyons spoke with BernardDrainville, the minister responsible for democraticinstitutions and active citizenship.

"Drainville said that while yes, thegovernmentwill considerwhat JacquesParizeauhad to say ...it will be considered along with the other 25,000 people who left comments on the government's website," Lyons said.