The Parti Québécois lawmakers who recently won elections are set to take their oaths in Quebec’s National Assembly on October 15 amidst an ongoing legal dispute over the legislation that exempts them from pledging allegiance to the King. Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, following his stance from 2022, has reiterated his refusal to swear allegiance to the monarch. Prior to 2022, members of the National Assembly (MNAs) were obligated to take this oath as per the Constitution Act of 1867.
In December 2022, Quebec’s Bill 4 was unanimously passed by the provincial government, amending the 1867 Act to eliminate the requirement for Quebec legislators to swear allegiance to the monarch. This change allowed select Parti Québécois and Québec Solidaire MNAs to assume their seats in the National Assembly by pledging allegiance solely to the people of Quebec. However, the legality of this 2022 law is under dispute, with law professor Lawrence David leading the challenge and seeking an emergency injunction to reinstate the oath for incoming MNAs.
The concerned parties appeared in Quebec Superior Court for a preliminary hearing, where the judge did not set a definitive date for the injunction application. The case is anticipated to be heard between October 19 and November 9. During the recent election campaign, St-Pierre Plamondon expressed his intentions to exclude the monarch’s representative, Lt.-Gov. Manon Jeannotte, from the upcoming parliamentary session if the Parti Québécois assumed power. He also pledged to eliminate the monarchy in Quebec and redirect the lieutenant-governor’s office funds towards combatting homelessness, which has a budget of $1.3 million for 2026-27.
As the newly elected premier-designate, St-Pierre Plamondon has sought legal counsel to assess the feasibility of fulfilling these commitments. Canada’s Governor General, Louise Arbour, raised doubts about the PQ’s proposed actions. Members of the opposition parties will be sworn in at a later date.