Having failed to make any headway on Quebec separatism since the mid-1990s, the province’s separatist parties have resurrected their demands to split with the British monarchy, in order to stoke the issue.

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Diane Francis: Separatist or not, Quebec politicians should take the oath of office or leave the legislature Back to video

This resurfaced recently when 14 Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire politicians refused to recite the oath of allegiance to the King during their swearing-in ceremony to the provincial legislature, as required by Canadian law. Then, the Bloc Québécois introduced a motion in Parliament to sever ties with the monarchy.

Canadian parliamentarians overwhelmingly voted against the motion, which BQ Leader Yves-François Blanchet held out as proof that federal politicians “prefer to support the King than the people.”

This was a political stunt, as it’s not a burning issue for most Canadian citizens, including those, such as myself, who are immigrants. The role of the monarchy is largely symbolic and is embedded within the Canadian Constitution. It is antiquated but harmless, and this renewed interest in breaking ties with it is not about King Charles, but about launching another constitutional squabble to obtain more autonomy and privileges for Quebec, and stoking separatist sentiment within the province.

Reopening the constitution is unnecessary and politically hazardous. But it provides Quebec’s separatist parties with an issue upon which to try and stage another damaging referendum on national unity. Two votes for a form of independence have already been held and both were turned down by a majority of Quebecers. In addition, two recent constitutional amendments to suit Quebec were turned down by Canadians at large.

The removal of the monarchy would require the approval of the Senate, the House of Commons and the unanimous consent of all 10 provinces. Good luck with that. Blanchet knows this would be virtually impossible, because there’s no way all 11 legislatures would agree on how to cross a road.

This latest separatist effort was handily smacked down at the federal level, but some separatists in Quebec’s national assembly still refuse to swear the required oath to the Crown. This is a legal requirement for all sitting politicians in the country, as well as for the Armed Forces, police, lawyers in some provinces and for anyone who wants to become a Canadian citizen. Any duly elected politicians should take the oath or leave office.

More annoying is that a compromise was already reached in Quebec. In the ’70s, the PQ began making noise about the oath and, in 1982, a supplementary oath pledging loyalty to the people of Quebec was instituted (though members still have to swear their allegiance to the Crown, as well).

In 2018, some newly elected MNAs recited their oath behind closed doors out of protest. But the abject refusal to take the oath is unacceptable. Unless fulfilled, they should be banned from sitting in Quebec’s legislature.

To resolve this impasse, there will either be a massive climb-down, because the oath is a constitutional requirement, or there will be a legal challenge by the province. It will almost certainly be ruled that refusing to take the oath is unconstitutional, but will serve as a call to arms for Quebec’s separatists.

Members of other federal parties criticized Blanchet’s gambit. Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus said the Bloc is just trying to grab media attention. “They say, `Let’s be the talk of the town. Let’s get in the news. It’s going to make headlines and we’re going to have a lot of fun doing it,’ ” Paul-Hus said.

Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux, parliamentary secretary to the government House leader, said, “Surely to goodness the Bloc understands no matter what region you’re from, nobody is talking about this issue. Except for the Bloc.”

When tabling his motion last week, Blanchet admitted he took the oath but didn’t mean it. He called Canada’s ties to the British Crown “archaic” and said that Quebecers “are a conquered people that still have to swear allegiance to a conquering King.”

This is the Quebec version of the Trump supporters who refuse to accept the will of the majority and the sanctity of the constitution.

Financial Post