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QUEBEC CITY Quebec Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard repeatedly accused the Parti Qubcois on Monday of fabricating a crisis to fuel support for a sovereignty referendum.

Couillard went after his election rivals for what he called a Machiavellian ploy to use the controversial Quebec values charter to spur a fight with Ottawa to better sell separation to the provinces voters, as described in an article about PQ strategy in La Presse newspaper, citing high level party operatives.

This is totally unacceptable. I have never seen something as despicable as this, politically, said Couillard, alleging the PQ is using the charter as an instrument of division to obtain support for a vote on separation.

Its one of the most cynical things I have ever seen done in Quebec politics . . . Quebecers of all origins will be scandalized.

Shortly afterward, PQ Leader Pauline Marois made the surprise announcement that she is prepared to used the rarely-invoked notwithstanding clause of the constitution to protect the charter from a Supreme Court challenge.

The notwithstanding clause is a section of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows governments to overrule court decisions that strike down laws deemed unconstitutional.

Taking questions during a campaign stop at the University of Laval, Couillard said Marois announcement reinforces his earlier comments about the La Presse article.

Couillard added that theres no comparison, in his view, between Marois proposed use of the clause, and when it was invoked by former Quebec premier Robert Bourassa in 1988 to save the provinces French language protection law, Bill 101.

The question to ask is: is it proportional? Does this tool that suspends people's liberty correspond with an issue that is urgent and real? Couillard said, repeating earlier comments that the PQ is trying to create an identity crisis to fuel support for its sovereignty agenda.

In the case of (the charter), there's no crisis, there's no real issue, so evidently there's no proportionality. The only goal is to start an argument with the (federal government.)

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Liberals accuse PQ of despicable ploy to spark Quebec referendum