Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister, thank you for coming to testify before the committee.
First of all, I understood from your presentation that, in your view the C-20 will modify essential characteristics of the Senate indirectly since the government—as the government leader said in his presentation—cannot make those changes directly. It is therefore tempting to make them indirectly by putting together a bill which in its opinion does not require constitutional debate to be reopened.
Second, you pointed out that this would result in profound changes to the federal compromise, in which the Senate plays the role of counterweight, as you clearly explained in your preceding answer. Thus, in your view, this is clearly a constitutional issue that would require the federal government to enter into negotiations with Quebec and the provinces so that the changes could be made.??
My first question is this: Did the federal government consult the government of Quebec before introducing Bill C-20?