PQ hanging on tight to identity issues

Many Parti-Qubcois supporters believe they lost the 2007 and 2008 elections because they were outflanked on issues related to francophone identity by Mario Dumont and his Action Dmocratique du Quebec (ADQ).

They want to make sure that doesn't happen with the ADQ's successor, Coalition Avenir Qubec, under Franois Legault.

Here are the three articles in theParti Quebecois election platformwhich fall under the heading of Values and Identity:

1. Provide Quebec with a constitution adopted by the national assembly after a broad public consultation in order to assert and provide a legal framework to the fundamental values of the Quebec nation, while taking into account its historical heritage such as the predominance of the French language, the equality of men and women, and the secular nature of public institutions.
2. Create a Quebec secularism charter.
3. Establish Quebec citizenship.

The Charter will prevent government employees from wearing overt religious symbols like the hijab, a turban or yarmulke. But a crucifix will be OK as long as it's not too ostentatious.

The PQ defends that compromise saying it recognizes the historic and cultural connection between francophone Quebecers and the Catholic church.

Add those commitments to the promise to prevent francophones and allophones from attending English CEGEPS, and its proposal to force businesses with more than 11 employees to function in French, and no one will doubt who the PQ is courting.