US EditionQuebec justice minister withdraws article on abortion rights in constitution bill
Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette withdrew Article 29 after consultations revealed legal risks and public concern despite 77% support for abortion protection, officials said.
- On Feb. 20, 2026, Simon Jolin-Barrette, Quebec Justice Minister, withdrew Section 29 from Bill 1 after extensive consultations and pressure, abandoning plans to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution.
- Amid extensive consultations, submissions from groups urged reconsideration, while legal experts and women's groups warned constitutionalizing abortion could open the door to restrictions, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade and tighter rules in Hungary.
- The dispute reached the CAQ leadership race, with Bernard Drainville flagging an imminent announcement and a CAQ-commissioned poll showing 77 per cent support for legislating abortion rights.
- The decision means protections remain based on case law and the Charter, and Jolin-Barrette said it was difficult but aimed to defend women's freedom of choice.
- Past attempts encountered the same pushback, as with Martine Biron, former minister responsible for the status of women, and Jolin-Barrette said his withdrawal followed consultations with legal experts and consultees, leaving future legal and political challenges unresolved.
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Quebec justice minister withdraws article on abortion rights in constitution bill
QUÉBEC — Quebec's justice minister has reversed course in the face of strong criticism of his plan to enshrine abortion rights in his constitution bill, announcing Friday the contentious section will be removed.
Quebec minister backtracks on enshrining abortion rights in proposed constitution
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette is backtracking on plans to enshrine the right to abortion in the proposed Quebec constitution. In a statement to Radio-Canada, Jolin-Barrette's office confirmed he intends to remove the article in question from the legislation.
Controversial article on abortion rights to be removed from Quebec constitution bill
Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette yields to pressure and removes the controversial article on abortion rights from his draft Quebec constitution. In an open letter published Friday in Le Journal de Montréal, Jolin-Barrette emphasizes that the decision to remove the article in question “was not an easy one to make.” However, he affirms that the government’s […]
L’actualité
Le CharlevoisienQUEBEC — The Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, gives way to pressure and withdraws the controversial article on the right to abortion from his draft constitution of Quebec. In an open letter published Friday in "Le Journal de Montréal", Mr. Jolin-Barrette pointed out that the decision to withdraw the article in question "was not easy [...]
The caquist elected officials blocked an opposition proposal to withdraw a controversial article on the right to abortion in the draft constitution.
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