PQ referendum policy to be put to referendum

In a change from its previous policy, Pauline Marois announced today that the Parti quebecois' new referendum policy would be subject to a referendum.

"Whereas previously, the policy of the Parti quebecois was to allow a referendum if 15% of the population supported holding a referendum which would have the support of 51% of the population, our policy is that now we will put to a referendum any policy in which a referendum supported by 15% of the population would lead to a referendum if it would have the support of 51% of the population when decided," said Marois. "We have always been very clear on this issue."

This policy changed a previous policy adopted by the Parti quebecois in February whereby after a consultation calling for a referendum was subject to an initiative by which at least 15% of the population would support a referendum on sovereignty, the government would hold a consultation by way of referendum which would be consultative but not binding unless supported by a majority of the population in which case it would be binding, however it would not bind the government to hold a referendum unless a binding referendum were held upon the initiative of the government.

The policy in February replaced the previous policy of the Parti quebecois on referendums, which stated that a referendum could be held by the government after a series of consultations on the subject matter of the referendum which would be held in the first mandate of the government, however the initiative to call the referendum would not bind the government in the first mandate but would vest in a consultative committee which would consult on whether a referendum should be held within the first mandate of the government.