Quebec Rejects the Crown: A Unanimous Call to Define Its Own Destiny

In a symbolic yet powerful act of provincial assertion, Quebec’s National Assembly unanimously voted on Tuesday to sever symbolic ties with the British monarchy. The 106-0 vote came just hours after King Charles III departed Canada, marking a striking contrast between ceremonial tradition and Quebec’s evolving identity.
While the motion carries no legal force, it represents a profound statement: the people of Quebec no longer see themselves reflected in royal symbols. Spearheaded by Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the motion garnered full support from all parties in the legislature—sovereigntists, nationalists, and even federalists—underscoring a rare moment of unity in the province’s often-fractious political landscape.
“It’s not my king. It’s not my country,” St-Pierre Plamondon declared. “Why should we funnel taxpayer money into institutions that have no relevance to our lives?”
Public sentiment strongly echoes this stance. A recent Léger poll revealed that 87% of Quebeckers feel no attachment to the Crown, viewing it more as a relic of colonial conquest than a living institution. For many, the monarchy symbolizes an outdated and imposed legacy, increasingly disconnected from Quebec’s modern values and aspirations.
Though the motion itself cannot dissolve Quebec’s constitutional obligations—such as the role of the Lieutenant-Governor or allegiance to the federal order—experts agree it sends a clear cultural and political message. As constitutional scholar Jean-François Gaudreault-DesBiens explains, actual abolition would require a national consensus and full constitutional reform, a Herculean task within Canada’s current political framework.
Still, the vote follows a series of quiet but meaningful steps. In 2022, Quebec dropped the mandatory pledge of allegiance to the monarch for its legislators. In 2023, the National Assembly passed a motion calling to abolish the Lieutenant-Governor’s role. Now, with the Parti Québécois polling strongly and pledging a future independence referendum, Quebec is edging closer to reimagining its constitutional future.
Premier François Legault’s government, while not committing to immediate action, affirmed its alignment with the will of Quebecers. “We are a nationalist government,” said spokesperson Ewan Sauves. “This motion speaks to Quebec’s identity as a distinct nation within Canada.”
The vote may be symbolic for now—but for many, it’s also prophetic.