The high stakes of Philippe Couillard's constitutional project

Only hours afterQuebec Premier Philippe Couillardkicked offdiscussions about having his province sign on to the 1982 Constitution, at least one of Couillard's provincial counterpartsmade it clear he would have hisown demands should talks reopen.

"If Quebec is interested in reopening the discussion about Quebec's place in Canada and the Constitution, there are certainly other constitutional issues we would like to discuss," Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who has taken jabs at Quebec in the past, said in a statement.

"At the top of the list would be equalization, which is a terribly flawed system that takes over $500 million a year out of Saskatchewan even while our economy is being hit by low resource prices, while providing over $11 billion a year to Quebec."

No easy debate

Wall's swiftresponse was a clue, if one was required, that reopening the long-dormant constitutional debate won't be easy.

Bernard St-Laurent, CBC Montreal's political analyst, said reopening the constitutional debate will have everyone wanting a piece of the pie.

"It opens up a can of worms every time you try to deal with it because everyone comes to the table with a different demand," he said.

But Couillard, a staunch federalist who committed to reopening the constitution when he became leader of the Quebec Liberal Partyin 2013, is adamant that Canada's 150th birthday is the right time to have a discussion.

"We're just saying let's understand each other better, because we've drifted apart in recent years," he said.

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Bourassa's5 conditions

For the last two years, Couillardhas been drafting the177-page document released today.

In it, he restatesthe famous "five conditions" for approval first set out by former Quebec premier RobertBourassain 1986:

• Recognition of Quebec as a distinct society.
• Limits on federal spending power.
• Guaranteed Quebec representation on the Supreme Court.
• Aconstitutional veto right.
• Increased control over immigration.

Prime Minister JustinTrudeau, for his part,wasquick to shoot down the idea.

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"You know my views on the Constitution,"Trudeautold reporters Thursday morning in Ottawa.

"We are not opening the Constitution."

St-Laurent said Couillard's move to bring this discussion back into the spotlightis at his own risk.

"The chances of success, as we have already seen, are low, and the risks arethat if it failsagain, it will be more ammunition for the sovereignty movement at a time when they are not doing very well."

"So it's a big risk at a time when it's not necessary to take that risk."

Couillard is now in the crosshairs of the Parti Qubcois, a year before the next provincial election.

"If in a year-and-a-halfthere is no progress, no majority of anglo-Canadiansthat agree with recognizing the Quebec nation in the Constitution, we have to see that as a failure," said PQ Leader Jean-Franois Lise.

"Wedon't think it'll work, but he put on his shoulders the burden of proof."