Reference re Secession of Quebec, [1998] 2 SCR 217

The most carefully reasoned modern judicial statement on remedial secession. §126 records that self-determination is generally exercised internally through meaningful political participation. §134 records that a right of external self-determination may arise where a people is denied any meaningful exercise of internal self-determination. §135 records that the 'internal blockage' branch is the 'last resort' branch. The Reference also insists that even where the condition is met, separation requires a legitimate process — not unilateral declaration. The doctrinal template most invoked by Tamil legal commentary.