Quebec referendum threshold

AI summary

Petitioners allege that, following a May 26, 2026 statement by Mark Carney that 50% plus one vote is “absolutely not” sufficient for a successful provincial independence referendum, the Prime Minister is undermining the Quebec people’s right to self‑determination. They note a May 12, 2026 unanimous motion of the National Assembly of Quebec and Bill 99 as affirming a 50% plus one rule, and the petition asks the Prime Minister to (1) recognize Quebec’s right to self‑determination, (2) respect 50% plus one as the winning threshold under the Referendum Act, and (3) publish documents relating to the 1995 “No” campaign expenditures.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Prime Minister On May 26, 2026, Mark Carney stated that a majority of 50% plus one vote is “absolutely not” enough to recognize a successful referendum on a province’s independence; In doing so, the Prime Minister of Canada is undermining the right of peoples to self-determination by redefining majority rule, a principle that is fundamental to democracy; This authoritarian drift not only limits a province’s ability to determine its own political status but also runs counter to Quebec’s laws and democratic values; and On May 12, 2026, the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously adopted a motion reaffirming that the applicable rule in a referendum is that of an absolute majority, namely 50% of the valid votes cast plus one. Furthermore, Bill 99, the validity of which was confirmed by the Quebec Court of Appeal, explicitly affirms this rule. We, the undersigned, citizens of Quebec, call upon the Prime Minister to: 1. Recognize the right of the Quebec people to self-determination and the implications arising from that right, including their inalienable right to freely decide the political regime and legal status of Quebec and that the Quebec people shall determine alone the mode of exercise of that right; 2. Respect the democratic principle that, when the Quebec people are consulted by way of a referendum under the Referendum Act, the winning option is the option that obtains a majority of the valid votes cast, namely 50% of the valid votes cast plus one; and 3. Make public all documents relating to expenditures incurred by the “No” campaign during the 1995 referendum. 1. Recognize the right of the Quebec people to self-determination and the implications arising from that right, including their inalienable right to freely decide the political regime and legal status of Quebec and that the Quebec people shall determine alone the mode of exercise of that right; 2. Respect the democratic principle that, when the Quebec people are consulted by way of a referendum under the Referendum Act, the winning option is the option that obtains a majority of the valid votes cast, namely 50% of the valid votes cast plus one; and 3. Make public all documents relating to expenditures incurred by the “No” campaign during the 1995 referendum.

Government response

No government response is available yet.