Article content

QUEBEC — The former Parti Québécois government admitted Thursday it never asked the Justice Department whether its proposed values charter would survive a legal or constitutional challenge.

The proposed legislation would have banned all public-sector employees, including teachers and daycare workers, from displaying or wearing religious symbols such as the hijab or the kippa.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Parti Québécois accused by political opponents of ‘lying’ about the Quebec Values Charter’s legality Back to video

The bill had not yet been adopted when the PQ called a general election in early March — a vote the sovereigntist party went on to lose April 7.

A spokesman for the PQ caucus said Thursday “eminent jurists” were consulted to make sure that Bill 60 was based on solid legal underpinnings.

Sebastien Marcil said they included constitutional expert Henri Brun, who is close to the PQ; former Supreme Court justice Claire L’Heureux-Dubé; and Julie Latour, the former head of the Quebec Bar.

They were consulted before the the charter was unveiled last September.