If you were to poll Quebeckers, you would discover that no one is losing sleep at night wondering if a public consultation should be held to select a senator. However, you would learn that most people feel the Senate should simply be abolished and that the proposed changes will make absolutely no difference because this institution had outlived its purpose. Furthermore—and this was the opinion expressed by the Government of Quebec in its submission—the bill would alter the balance of power between the provinces and provincial and federal institutions. For that reason, constitutional negotiations are needed. We have said many times that these changes cannot be made unilaterally by the federal government and the House of Commons.
You mention that Quebec effectively did away with its legislative chamber in 1968. That is not a good example. The province of Quebec is part of a larger federation comprised of federal and provincial jurisdictions. As such, federal parliamentary institutions cannot be amended without the consent of the provinces.
The National Assembly unanimously passed a motion calling on the federal government and the Parliament of Canada not to make any changes to the Canadian Senate without the consent of the Government of Quebec and the National Assembly. This motion was forwarded to the government and as far as I know, neither the National Assembly nor the Government of Quebec has changed its position on this matter.
If the Government of Quebec opposes Bill C-20 on the grounds that constitutional negotiations are needed, along with the consent of the provinces to the proposed Senate changes, will the government be prepared to move forward if Quebec, which has been recognized as a nation within Canada, is not on board? Quebec's opposition should, in our opinion, be equal to a veto. Would you be prepared to forge ahead without Quebec's support?