A community summit on Quebec’s constitutional future

The Citizens’ Constitutional Summit — CCS — is a non-profit initiative designed to help Quebec’s English-speaking community and other Quebec minorities prepare for, discuss, and contribute to the debate over a Quebec constitution.

This initiative follows the publication, on February 15, 2026, in the Montreal Gazette, of the op-ed “Time for an Anglo summit on a Quebec constitution,” by Peter G. White, Giuliano D’Andrea and Richard Walsh Smith.

Quebec is now engaged in a constitutional conversation. Whether the issue takes the form of amendments to the CAQ government’s Bill 1, new constitutional proposals before the next provincial election, or a new version of a Quebec constitution under a future government, English-speaking Quebecers and other minorities should be ready to participate constructively.

The CCS aims to provide a forum where members of these communities can discuss their concerns, develop ideas, and consider how best to contribute to Quebec’s constitutional future.

Why the CCS?

There will naturally be different points of view within the English-speaking community on how to approach the question of a Quebec constitution. That is why the CCS is designed as a broad community initiative rather than the project of a single existing organization.

The goal is to create a neutral and constructive space where different voices can be heard and where possible areas of common ground can be explored.

Although the CCS is being launched with the support of the Greater Quebec Movement (GQM), it is intended to become a broader community initiative, open to collaboration with other organizations, groups and individuals.

What the CCS seeks to do

The CCS aims to:

  • Convene initial small community discussions and roundtables.
  • Invite participation from a broad range of English-speaking, allophone, ethnocultural, religious, regional and community voices.
  • Encourage cooperation with existing organizations rather than competition.
  • Help develop practical ideas that could inform these communities’ position on a Quebec constitution.
  • Build toward a larger community summit.

A possible process for the citizens’ summit

The CCS process could include:

  1. Initial roundtables
    Smaller discussions bringing together representatives from different communities, experts, organizations and interested citizens.
  2. Discussion papers
    Short summaries of the main concerns, ideas and possible proposals emerging from these discussions.
  3. A broader community summit
    A larger event to consider common themes, points of agreement and possible recommendations.
  4. A public report
    A final summary that would be shared with community organizations, public representatives, the media and the Quebec public as a whole.

Who should participate?

The CCS welcomes participation from:

  • Community organizations
  • Regional groups
  • Education and health-sector stakeholders
  • Youth representatives
  • Business people
  • Legal and constitutional experts
  • Ethnocultural and religious communities
  • Allophone Quebecers
  • Independent citizens interested in constructive dialogue

The goal is to reflect the diverse points of view within Quebec’s English-speaking community, as well as among other minorities that may be affected by future constitutional developments.

Relationship with the Greater Quebec Movement (GQM)

The CCS is an initiative of the Greater Quebec Movement (GQM). For practical reasons, the CCS will initially be hosted in a section of the GQM website. The intention is to develop the CCS as a broader non-profit organization (NPO), with its own leadership structure and with the participation of individuals and organizations from across the community.

Background readings

The following background documents provide context:

Individuals and organizations interested in participating in future CCS discussions, roundtables or planning conversations are invited to contact the Greater Quebec Movement (GQM) at: [email protected]