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Québec solidaire to swear oath to King with plans to table bill to make pledge optional

Click to play video: 'Québec solidaire to swear oath to King after all'
Québec solidaire to swear oath to King after all
Quebec solidaire mnas are doing a political u-turn on the oath to the British monarchy after weeks of refusal. As Global's Brayden Jagger Haines reports, the Quebec government could make the ceremonial oath optional -- but legal experts say that could be complicated – Nov 3, 2022

The 11 recently elected members of Québec solidaire are no longer refusing to swear an oath of office to King Charles III.

Spokesman Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois says party members will take the oath so that they can enter the legislature and quickly table a bill to make the pledge optional.

Quebec solidaire’s reversal is in reaction to a decision earlier this week by the Speaker of the legislature, who said the oath to the King was mandatory and authorized the sergeant-at-arms to expel members who don’t comply.

Nadeau-Dubois’ decision isolates the three recently elected members of the Parti Québécois, who continue to refuse to swear the oath to the King.

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Nadeau-Dubois says the Speaker’s decision is disappointing, but the Québec solidaire spokesman says that to pass a law making the oath optional, his party needs to sit in the legislature.

Coalition Avenir Québec house leader Simon Jolin-Barrette has said the government is ready to move quickly to make the oath optional.

Click to play video: 'Bloc Québécois tables motion in Ottawa challenging ties to British monarchy'
Bloc Québécois tables motion in Ottawa challenging ties to British monarchy

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