Human rights groups are calling on the Parti Québécois to scrap its contentious 'Quebec Identity' legislation, which they say puts the province to shame.

Bill 195, which outlines requirements for immigrants to earn so-called 'Quebec' citizenship, includes measures to prevent immigrants from running for political office, petitioning the government or fundraising for political parties if they can't pass a French test.

The legislation is xenophobic, echoes extreme right-wing immigrant policies seen in Europe and is an attempt to legislate discrimination, claims the Centre for Research on Race Relations (CRARR) and B'nai Brith Canada.

It would inevitably create two classes of citizens, said Steven Slimovich, national legal counsel for B'nai Brith.

"You either have inalienable human rights, or you don't," he said Thursday. "You either have freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and so forth, or you don't.

"It cannot possibly be limited on the basis or the cultural views of any group in the society where you live."

The groups are asking the PQ withdraw the bill and apologize to Quebecers. They've also asked United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Doudou Diène to comment on the legislation.

Slimovich said the legislation marks a disturbing return to the divisive "them" and "us" attitude that positions white, Catholic francophone pure laine Quebecers against immigrants of all stripes.

Identity bill marks shift for struggling PQ

The bill seems condemned with both the minority Liberal government and opposition Action Démocratique du Québec slamming it for being unconstitutional.

But the PQ's idea of Quebec citizenship based on French competency indicates the sovereigntist party is ready once again to tap into linguistic insecurities in order to bolster its support, observers said.

"The Parti Québécois has a credibility deficit in regards to defending identity," said Université de Montréal political scientist Denis Monière, in an interview with Canadian Press.

The PQ was soundly defeated in the last provincial election, finishing third after losing significant ground in rural ridings to the conservative-minded ADQ, now the province's official Opposition.

The stunning loss shook the party, forced then leader André Boisclair to resign and sparked internal debate about the separatist party's raison d'être.

Some PQ supporters believe the losses reflect the party's erosion from its traditional linguistic battleground as it expanded its reach in the 1990s, and opted for a more inclusive image.
 
"Within that context, it has put in place a strategy to retake control of the political agenda to edge out the ADQ in promoting the Québécois identity," Monière told CP.

Marois is in a tight spot as she has rejected the possibility of another immediate referendum if the PQ regains power — but she wants to promote and defend the French language, the impetus behind the writing of Bill 195.

The party wants to "advance the cause of sovereignty without achieving it," Monière said. "It's paradoxical."

If nothing else, debate over the unprecedented legislation has renewed interest in the party's ideas and underlines a new strategy for Marois, Monière said. The PQ leader has "succeeded insofar that we are talking about her.

"That's controlling the political agenda, which is something the Parti Québécois hasn't done in the last two years."

With files from the Canadian Press