QUEBEC — The dispute over federal crime legislation has, in the Quebec legislature, become a proxy battle for whether the province really belongs in Canada.

Premier Jean Charest found himself forced to defend the merits of Canadian federalism Wednesday from opponents eager to make political hay over Bill C-10.

His opposition, the pro-independence Parti Quebecois, has been citing disputes lately with the new Conservative majority government as evidence Quebec and Canada don't really belong in the same country.

Ottawa's renewed attachment to the monarchy, the senior federal appointees who can't speak French and, now, the controversial crime bill are all being used as ammunition by the PQ.

The opposition says Charest has proven powerless and failed to get any respect from Ottawa in the dispute over Bill C-10, the omnibus crime legislation.

But Charest is defending his government -- and his country -- saying that one disagreement isn't a reason to break up a country.

Despite recent tensions, Charest said, Quebecers "believe in their country" and are "perfectly at ease with the idea that they can be Quebecers and Canadians at the same time."

He rebuffed a PQ parliamentary motion calling for Quebec to demand that Ottawa relinquish power over the Criminal Code.

The Charest government has, however, been highly critical the federal legislation.

One provincial cabinet member, Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier, this week left a meeting with his federal counterpart empty-handed. Fournier said he couldn't recognize Canada in this latest gesture by the Harper government.

Quebec and other critics of the crime bill say it's based on flimsy logic and non-existent evidence.

They say it could have disastrous consequences, not only for long-term crime rates but also for taxpayers because it will lead to longer incarcerations, especially in provincial prisons.

Bill C-10 would toughen penalties for a series of crimes, both for young and adult offenders.

The PQ nearly accused Charest of being a traitor Wednesday -- for not attacking Ottawa enough on the issue.

Unlike his more nationalist-minded predecessors, ex-Liberal leaders Robert Bourassa and Claude Ryan, the current Liberal premier "prefers to defend federalism instead of defending the values and interests of the Quebec people," PQ Leader Pauline Marois said.