Why Quebec’s proposed constitution has legal experts, civil rights groups sounding the alarm

Legislation lays out vision for province, but critics say it could infringe on individual freedoms

Quebec Premier François Legault took many by surprise when, last month, his government introduced a proposed constitution for the province without consulting the population first.

The constitution, he said, would protect the common values of the province, including the French language, secularism, the right to an abortion and equality between men and women.

In the weeks since, the legislation has been the subject of growing consternation among legal experts and civil liberties groups, who warn it would centralize power, weaken judicial oversight and infringe on individual freedoms.