Bernard Drainville quits, calling secular charter 'debate that remains to be concluded'

Bernard Drainville steadfastly defended his failed secular charter on Tuesday while confirming his decision toquit political life.

The former PartiQubcoishouse leader and one-time leadership hopeful said the 2013 proposedlegislationsparked a debate in the province that remains unresolved.

• Key moments in BernardDrainville'spolitical career
• SPECIAL REPORTl Quebec secular charter

"I think it's a debate that remains to be concluded," Drainville saidduringa news conference inhis riding ofMarie-VictorininLongueuil.

"I think it's a very sound democratic principle so I stand by what I proposed.It was not concluded the way I wish."

The charter,which would haveprohibited employees in the public servicesuch as daycare workers,teachersand doctorsfrom wearing overt religious symbolson the job, was abandoned after the PQ lost the 2013 election.

Bernard Drainville defends secular charter

8 years ago

Duration 0:36

Bernard Drainville defends secular charter

While the proposalcame under criticism in Quebec and across Canada, Drainvillemaintained that a majority of Quebecersand 30 per cent of allophones supported the idea.

Back to the airwaves

Drainville, a former reporter at Radio-Canada,announced he will workas a talk-show host on Quebec City'sFM93radio station, starting Tuesday afternoon.

Hesaid Pierre KarlPladeau'sdecision in early May to quit as PQ leader affected him deeply andwas asignal for himto move on.

"I still have a lot to give, but it won't be in politics,"Drainvillesaid.

Drainville hasbeen critical of politicians who leavemid-mandate in the past.

In 2013, he told reporters that doing so would mean breaking what amounts to a "moral contract"with voters.

Under legislation passed last year bythe Couillardgovernment a bill which waschampioned by Drainvillehe won't receive a severance bonus for leaving in the middle of his term.

A key figure in PQ caucus

While he will best be rememberedfor introducingthe charter,Jean-FranoisLisesaid Drainvillewas "instrumental" in holding the Liberal government to account over the past year.

"It's not good news.Bernard was a pillar of our team,"Lise, a fellow PQ MNA andaparty leadership candidate, told CBC Montreal's Daybreak.

Lise described how every morning at 8 o'clock, Bernard would arrive at the National Assembly having already "read every newspaper clipping" and briefing.

"He led the charge that made us show time and time again how the Liberals were mired in a number of difficulties," he said.

Lise added that Drainville saw "himself as a future leader of the Parti Qubcois, and he had made a determination that this could not happen in the near future."

Drainville's decision comes following the recent departures of two other high-profile members of the PQ: former leader Pladeau and former interim leader Stphane Bdard.

Lise, however, said "there's no question that a roster of good candidates" will be set for the 2018 provincial election.