A report by Quebec's commission on religious and cultural accommodations is seriously flawed in its omissions, the Parti Québécois said Friday, a day after the document was released.

The Bouchard-Taylor report on so-called reasonable accommodation offers some good recommendations on fighting racism and integrating immigrants, but it completely sidesteps Quebec's current identity crisis, which PQ Leader Pauline Marois called a "very large problem."

The report, penned by sociologist Gérard Bouchard and philosopher Charles Taylor, misrepresents what Marois called a major concern for a majority of Quebecers: the protection and preservation of their French identity.

“They tell the majority that you have no reason to be worried," she said Friday. "But the report offers a poor understanding of how we should reconcile the Quebec 'us'."

"This is a Québécois 'us,' regardless of your origin. It's not necessary to be born here to be part of our collective journey, but you have to get on the train," she said in French at a news conference.

The Bouchard-Taylor report summarized several months of testimony collected across the province about people's experiences with reasonable accommodation and their thoughts about Quebec's changing demographic makeup.

The commission was established after some examples of accommodation sparked furious debate in the province's francophone media about immigrants, ethnic minorities and Quebec identity.

That firestorm was largely a "crisis of perception," the report said, adding that Quebec needs to accept its "open, secular, plural" character.

What Quebec really needs is its own constitution that enshrines common values in a binding document, with emphasis on the primacy of French, gender equality and secularism, Marois said.

The commission did a fine job summarizing testimony and briefs and produced a "very good report on a philosophical and sociological plan," said PQ culture critic Pierre Curzi. But it offered no real solutions.

"It's not a political answer," Curzi said. "We have proposed a lot of political answers. Why don't we discuss … [those]?"

Crucifix stays, says premier

Premier Jean Charest has already indicated his government will review the 300-page document before announcing an "action plan" on the commission's 37 recommendations.

But the Liberals, backed by the opposition PQ and ADQ, already rejected the suggestion to remove a large crucifix from Quebec's provincial legislature.

The crucifix will stay because it represents Quebec's history and heritage, Charest said.

The Liberals introduced a motion to keep the cross Thursday that was passed unanimously by all three parties.

Charest indicated Thursday his government would introduce a signed declaration for people interested in immigrating to Quebec that would require them to pledge their commitment to Quebec's common values.

On Friday, the premier published an open letter in Quebec newspapers addressing the need for newcomers to embrace Québécois values.

Titled "When we choose Quebec, we also choose Quebecers and their values," the letter includes a short message about Quebec's history, language, culture, territory, institutions and most important values, including gender equality, the primacy of French and secularism.

"We don't have the same roots, but we have the same destiny, because we are all Quebecers," the signed letter says.

Public reaction mixed

The Bouchard-Taylor report garnered mixed reaction from the public and special interest groups across the province and country.

In the town of Hérouxville, 165 kilometres northeast of Montreal, where the local council adopted a strict code of conduct last year that banned stoning, few were impressed with the two commissioners' work.

"They don't seem to be at all interested in solving the problem," said municipal counselor André Drouin, who initiated the code of conduct.

Quebecers aren't interested in making religious accommodations, he said.

The Canadian Muslim Council said it hopes the report becomes a guiding force to counteract prejudices within the general population.

Public debate about religious and ethnic diversity will hopefully be able to move ahead now that the commission's work is done, the Canadian Islamic Congress said.

"We'd like to see everyone support this project and … move beyond stereotypes towards true interculturalism and towards a deeper knowledge of each other," said CIC spokeswoman Najat Boughaba.

The Canadian Jewish Congress said it also supports the report's general conclusions, although it rejects the commission's recommendation to prohibit public servants such as judges, prison guards, Crown prosecutors and police officers from wearing religious clothing and symbols on the job.

With files from the Canadian Press