MONTREAL – The Parti Quebecois has presented a watered-down version of its language policy just one day after its original announcement prompted a backlash from aboriginal groups.

The party says its policy won’t actually force people who currently live in Quebec, including aboriginal peoples, to prove they can speak French to run for municipal or provincial office.

Now the PQ is saying its new Quebec citizenship would automatically be granted to everyone who already lives in the province. Anyone who has that citizenship could run for elected office.

The party says newcomers, however, would have to demonstrate some knowledge of Quebec and of French to get that citizenship, in a process similar to Canada’s.

The PQ explains that the policy should have been made clear yesterday when Leader Pauline Marois announced her plan for a Quebec citizenship.

Her announcement prompted a swift backlash from native groups. Some aboriginal communities overwhelmingly speak English or native languages.

An Inuit group has called the PQ proposal ridiculous. And, in a statement on Wednesday, the Quebec and Labrador Assembly of First Nations said it wouldn’t abide by the policy.

The statement from Assembly Chief Ghislain Picard said “none of the First Nations in Quebec” will bend to “a foreign law adopted by a provincial government.”

The PQ also explained that its legislation to create a Quebec citizenship would be studied by a parliamentary committee where all citizens could express their point of view.

It is among several of the nationalist policies put forward by the party, currently considered the front-runner, in the current election campaign. It has also promised to extend language laws beyond high school, to junior colleges.

However, in the face of a backlash, it has suggested its plan to extend Bill 101 to CEGEPs would not be an immediate priority.

Liberal Leader Jean Charest expressed disbelief.

“I have rearely seen such improvisation — on a subject that isn’t mundane either,” Charest said after the PQ announcement Wednesday.

“It’s about who has a right to run in elections.”

Charest noted that the citizenship plan dates back several years, and was endorsed by the party when Francois Legault — now the Coalition party leader — was still with the PQ. He referred to an interview in which a prominent PQ member said the citizenship plan would be the party’s first act in government.

“Now you’re telling me they won’t do it. Oh,” Charest deadpanned. He said the confusion proved the PQ wasn’t ready to govern.