Court Asked to Rule on Quebec Secession

To the wrath of separatists, the Canadian government asked the Supreme Court to rule on Canada’s most volatile political question--whether Quebec has the right to secede unilaterally. Separatism in the mostly French-speaking province has been the dominant national issue for decades, yet federal officials have never before sought a court ruling on the legality of unilateral independence. The announcement by Justice Minister Allan Rock was swiftly denounced by Quebec’s separatist government, which intends to hold another referendum within the next few years.