The Parti Quebecois' failed secularism charter might be gone but it's not forgotten, as evidenced in some heated chatter from the province's political circles Friday.

The prickly subject came up in the National Assembly as PQ interim chief Stephane Bedard argued that Quebec has accomplished more than other countries “because we are more homogenous.”

Bedard said that small countries often accomplish great feats as a direct result of the homogenous nature of their populations.

“It’s the small countries that succeed most. Norway, Denmark, Belgium are the countries that perform best. Why? Because they are more homogenous, so it’s easier for them to adopt ambitious economic policies.”

"Once freed from the Canadian system, Quebec would speak in one nearly-unanimous voice," said Bedard. “The same debates that divide us now would unify us in a sovereign Quebec."

MNA Jean-Marc Fournier, serving as leader in Premier Couillard’s absence, was quick to tie Bedard’s comments to the failed secularism charter, describing Bedard's arguments as a “denial of the plurality and diversity,” and a return to the old PQ “charter of exclusion,” as he described it.

“In my eyes, homogeneity means that there’s no place for diversity, there's no place for plurality. That’s what homogenous means,” said Fournier, MNA for St. Laurent.

Fournier said that he heard echoes of PQ leadership hopeful Pierre Karl Peladeau in Bedard’s descriptions.

Earlier this week Peladeau said that the secularism charter was an element of “identity sovereignty.”

Fournier blasted Bedard and said that such thinking is," tied to a charter that would fire people who dress different.”

Bedard defended himself against Fournier saying that Quebec is not ethnically homogenous but is homogenous in its collective choices, such as for the protection of the environment, and gun control. He added that his analysis was based on conclusions of a study made by two Harvard professors on economic models around the world.

The debate led CAQ MNA Benoit Charette to leave his seat, saying that he had better things to do than spend two hours discussing a hypothetical project largely abandoned by Quebecers.

“I think that Quebecers expect us to get work done rather than to dream like the PQ likes to do, in perfect contradiction to what the voters expect of us, to deal with the real problems of Quebec,” said Charette, a former PQ MNA.

“So keep dreaming, meanwhile we’ll go and work for the betterment of Quebec.”

Beaudoin blasts Lisee

Meanwhile in a separate debate over the charter of values, former longtime PQ MNA Louise Beaudoin raised a warning flag about the possibility the subject could cause irreparable damage to the sovereignty movement.

The former Rosemont MNA, who sees herself as an unofficial nanny overseeing the leadership contest, took aim at criticism made by candidate Jean-François Lisée who said Thursday that rival Bernard Drainville had “poisoned’ the debate over a secular state.

According to Lisée, the PQ had disqualified itself from any constructive role in the debate by supporting a ban on religious symbols worn by state employees.

Beaudoin first laid out the PQ’s position on secularism in 2010 while the party was in opposition. The PQ adopted the charter at a 2011 conference and It was well-received by the public, according to polls, she notes.

As a result, Jean-François Lisée had no justification in demonizing the endeavor nor Drainville, who was responsible for the charter.

Lisée damaged the party and its supporters, according to Beaudoin. “I really wonder if he’s aware of the damage he did. He hurt others and he hurt himself,” she said.

Beaudoin had previously taken aim at Lisée, saying he was “cooked,” after saying that leadership rival Pierre Karl Peladeau had to choose between his media empire and political ambitions.

“First he goes to war against Peladeau and now Drainville,” said Beaudoin, who claims to be neutral and is no longer a card-carrying PQ member.

Beaudoin refutes Lisée’s impression that the proposed secularism charter was a big factor in the PQ’s crushing defeat in the most recent provincial election.

-With files from The Canadian Press