Quebec Premier François Legault took many by surprise when, last month, his government introduced a proposed constitution for the province aiming to reflect its “distinct national character."

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.

But 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.

“We have a government that wants to enshrine the so-called Quebec values at the expense of rights and freedom of all Quebecers, but especially the minorities,” said Laurence Guénette, a co-o

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