Subject: Affirming New Brunswick's Inalienable Right to Self-Determination

 

Dear MLA,

 

I hope this message finds you well. 

 

I am writing as a concerned resident of New Brunswick to express my support for the introduction of legislation akin to Quebec's Bill 99, formally known as the Act respecting the exercise of the fundamental rights and prerogatives of the Québec people and the Québec State.

 

Enacted in 2000, Quebec's Bill 99 was a response to the federal Clarity Act and serves to affirm the province's right to self-determination. It stipulates that any referendum on Quebec's political status is to be decided by a simple majority (50% plus 1) and asserts that no other parliament or government may diminish the powers or legitimacy of Quebec's National Assembly or constrain the democratic will of its people.

 

It also reaffirms the Treaty Rights of the First Nations living in the Province and commits that the government undertakes to further develop and maintain harmonious relations with First Nations.

 

Importantly, in 2018, the Quebec Superior Court upheld the constitutionality of Bill 99, confirming that it aligns with both the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

 

Given the precedent set by Quebec, I believe it is both appropriate and necessary for New Brunswick to enact similar legislation that:

 

1) Affirms the inalienable right of the people of New Brunswick to self-determination within the Canadian federation.

 

2) Establishes clear guidelines for any future referenda concerning the province's political status, including the principle that a simple majority constitutes a decisive outcome.

 

3) Asserts that decisions regarding New Brunswick's political future rest solely with its residents, free from external constraints.

 

Such legislation would not only reinforce the democratic rights of New Brunswick's citizens but also clarify the province's stance within the broader Canadian constitutional context.

 

I urge you to consider advocating for the development and passage of a bill that embodies these principles. Your leadership on this matter would be a significant step toward affirming the autonomy and democratic rights of our province.

 

Thank you for your attention to this important issue. 

 

I look forward to your response and to seeing New Brunswick take proactive steps in affirming its commitment to democratic self-determination.

 

Sincerely,