Quebec will act fast on Bouchard-Taylor culture report: Charest

Quebec Premier Jean Charest is promising to respond quickly to recommendations from the Bouchard-Taylor commission, which released its long-awaited report on reasonable accommodation Thursday.

But the Liberal government is not keen on the idea of a Quebec constitution outlining fundamental values, despite calls from opposition parties demanding a new provincial charter.

The provincial commission spent a year examining issues around reasonable accommodation of religious and cultural beliefs and practices, especially in Quebec's public institutions.

Charest said his government is set to roll out a new action plan with measures reflecting the commission's conclusions, that will stress "profound" values inherent to Quebec society, including the "rule of French, gender equality [and] the separation of church and state," he said earlierWednesday.

Action Dmocratique du Qubec Leader Mario Dumont has argued Quebec needs its own constitution to outline people's rights and responsibilities as residents of la belle province.

"I think it's a positive thing, to have in a fundamental text, the values and the basic ideas of what it means to live in Quebec, and what kinds of values and functioning of society you should expect," he said Wednesday.

"I think it's good to express that, make that clear."

Parti Qubcois Leader Pauline Marois also supports the idea of a Quebec constitution.

Charest said it's not a feasible solution and would require a lengthy public process, including a provincial referendum.

The premier will comment on the Bouchard-Taylor commission report Thursday afternoon, along with the ADQ's Dumont.

The PQ has said it will reserve comment until Friday.

Leaked reports suggest commission report critical

The Quebec government came under fire for not releasing the report earlier this week, after several excerpts were leaked to the press.

According to published reports in the Montreal Gazette and the Journal de Montral, the commission will recommend Quebec francophones nurture a more open attitude to newcomers, learn more English and cultivate better knowledge about the world.

The hijab figures prominently in the commission's findings, with media reports suggesting Quebecers should accept the wearing of the hijab by Muslim women, instead of feeling threatened by it.

Charest established the provincial commission during the 2007 provincial election campaign following a series of very public clashes over culture and religion between so-called "old stock" and first and second generation Quebecers.

Sociologist Grard Bouchard and philosopher Charles Taylor spent several months touring Quebec, hosting public town hall meetings to hear from Quebecers about their views on religion, culture and Qubcois values.