Madam Speaker, the short answer to the latter question is that I believe Quebecers are a distinct people. I do not believe that automatically conveys a right to establish an independent state by illegal means. I will answer some of the other points the member raised in the order he raised them.
We do not shy away from the legitimate use of the democratic process to settle the most profound questions, including the question of secession. We believe those processes should be in accordance with the rule of law, they should ask real questions about the real issue and they should present all the options.
The option we are most concerned about in Quebec that is not being considered, and maybe we are having difficulty communicating it to our Bloc friends, is that there is a legitimate third option. It is not the hon. member for Sherbrooke's third option.
All across the country there are people who want to rebuild federalism from the bottom up in a much more profound way. Meech Lake and Charlottetown were top down. That is what was wrong with them and that is why we rejected them.
All across the country there are people who want to rebuild the federal system from the bottom up. We believe that the process which has been suggested here and the process which has been followed in Quebec for the last 30 years have not given that option a legitimate opportunity for expression, nor does the process outlined in this act.
There are two more points arising from the member's comments. He suggested that sovereignty is a legitimate and principal means of dealing with inequality. I question him. Does the member actually believe that the way to deal, for example, with inequalities within Quebec is that if someone feels unequal the way to cope with that is to declare themselves sovereign and independent from the framework in which they feel the inequality?
That principle can be preached here in defence of Quebec's attempts to secede. I doubt very much whether any of the members would agree to it if it was put forward by someone in Quebec as an argument for addressing their inequality and seceding from Quebec.
My last point is on the question of legality. I would challenge the Bloc members to table in the House a legal opinion from any respected constitutional authority saying that the bill that has been tabled in the Quebec legislature is within the legislative competence of the province of Quebec.