moved:
That
Whereas the People of Quebec have expressed the desire for recognition of Quebec's distinct society;
(1) the House recognize that Quebec is a distinct society within Canada;
(2) the House recognize that Quebec's distinct society includes its French-speaking majority, unique culture and civil law tradition;
(3) the House undertake to be guided by this reality;
(4) the House encourage all components of the legislative and executive branches of government to take note of this recognition and be guided in their conduct accordingly.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise in the House of Commons to launch the debate on the motion presented by the government to recognize Quebec as a distinct society within Canada.
I made three commitments during the Quebec referendum campaign: first, to recognize that Quebec forms a distinct society within Canada; second, not to make any constitutional change that affects Quebec without Quebecers' consent; and third, to undertake changes to bring services and the decision making process closer to citizens.
Less than a month after the referendum, the government is keeping its word and fulfilling its commitments. I would like to remind everyone that a majority of Quebecers said on October 30 that they want Quebec to continue to be a part of Canada and that they want changes to be made within Canada. The Government of Canada has understood that message, and the resolution we are debating today, as well as the bills on a veto and unemployment insurance reform, are testimony to the Government of Canada's respect for the choice of Quebecers.
By rejecting the option of separation promoted by the Parti Quebecois and members of the official opposition, Quebecers have called on their provincial government to act like a full-fledged partner and to work with us for the evolution of the Canadian federation. It is unfortunate for Quebecers that their government and the official opposition have not remembered that message. They refuse to respect the will of the majority and to represent all Quebecers, not just those who say the same things they do.
In fact, a few minutes ago, in the Quebec National Assembly, the Parti Quebecois refused to recognize the results of the referendum in a motion put forward by the opposition asking the National Assembly to recognize them. It is unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition, who is likely to be the next premier of Quebec, is still talking as if the referendum campaign were still under way. The referendum is over. Quebecers have voted for Canada, for change within Canada. It is about time certain members of this House realized that.
Our government understands the lessons that had to be learned. The result of the referendum on October 30 has shown us we cannot take Canada for granted. The Canada we have built deserves to be defended against its detractors. Canada deserves to have its evolution safeguarded. That is what we intend to do.
The measures we initiated on Monday move in that direction. All our actions have just one goal: to ensure the unity and evolution of Canada in order to respond to the aspirations of all Canadians.
The purpose of the motion we are debating today is to have the elected representatives of Canada recognize that Quebec is a distinct society within Canada. As a Quebecer and a francophone, I understand and share the desire of my fellow Quebecers to have our difference recognized.
The motion put forward by our government goes to the very heart of what makes Quebec different. The motion specifies that this distinct society includes, and I quote: "-its French-speaking majority, unique culture and civil law tradition".
That definition of what makes Quebec different is just, true to reality and unrestrictive. I am certain that most Quebecers will recognize themselves in that definition of distinct society. It includes our traditions, our culture, our legal system and our French soul.
The debate we are having today on this motion is an opportunity for the members of the official opposition to show solidarity with and good faith in their fellow citizens. It is an opportunity for them to act positively to support the recognition of the distinct society of Quebec by the House.
I would not want to miss this opportunity to speak directly to Quebecers who, since October 30, since the distressing statements by Mr. Parizeau, since the unacceptable actions by Mr. Landry, have been feeling nervous and unwelcome.
Quebec is made up of a francophone majority. That is what makes it different. However, Quebec is also made up of Quebecers who have come from every part of the world. They are full fledged Quebecers and Canadians. On behalf of the Government of Canada I want to tell them today that we have not forgotten them. I assure them of our full support. They can count on us.
Canada is a country where diversity is respected, where we can recognize and affirm our differences. We reject the idea that a country must require its citizens to have a single, uniform identity.
The reality of Canada accommodates recognition of Quebec as a distinct society within Canada. The reality of Canada includes the reality of Quebec.
We are calling today on the members of this House to recognize that Quebec is a distinct society within Canada.
During the referendum campaign the legislatures of Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland passed resolutions recognizing the uniqueness of Quebec within Canada by virtue of its language, culture and legal systems.
Canadians throughout the country also showed their attachment to Quebec during the referendum campaign. All across the country spontaneous demonstrations were organized in support of Quebec.
Today I call on Canadians who demonstrated their attachment to Quebec during the referendum campaign to support our government's initiative to recognize Quebec explicitly as a distinct society.
With the support of Canadians, with the support of governments in the other provinces, and with the support of members of this House, I am certain that, if the Government of Quebec so wishes, we will be able to entrench that recognition of Quebec's distinct society within the Canadian Constitution.
But now is not the time for constitutional discussions, because the Government of Quebec and the Leader of the Opposition himself have indicated that they refuse to participate in such discussions. That is why the government has decided to show Quebecers that it is possible to recognize their society for what it is, by calling on the House to vote in favour of this motion.
Once it is passed, this resolution will have an impact on how legislation is passed in the House of Commons. I remind Canadians that the legislative branch will be bound by this resolution, as will the executive branch. This is a real, dynamic recognition, recorded in the very heart of our country's government.
I believe that this is the type of assurance and guarantee that the majority of Quebecers are looking for. And the Leader of the Opposition need do only one thing to indicate to them that he respects their vote in favour of change within Canada. Unfortunately, he has already indicated that he does not intend to do that.
Moreover, the Leader of the Opposition often likes to remind us of those who did not support Meech. And each time, memory fails him. Well, I would like to remind him that his colleague sitting right beside him, the member for Roberval, was a member of the National Assembly in 1987 and he voted against Meech.
The party which he intends to lead voted against Meech and against Charlottetown, and is about to reject for a third time in a row the recognition of the fact that Quebec is a distinct society within Canada.
The party he still leads today is about to do the same. History will remember that.
As it concerns the aboriginal people of Canada, my government is clearly on record as respecting their aspirations. We recognize the unique legal position of aboriginal people, including the protection of aboriginal and treaty rights in the Canadian Constitution and the inherent right of self-government.
This resolution, through which the House is being called upon to confirm the reality that Quebec is a distinct society, is not intended in any way to infringe upon or derogate from those aboriginal or treaty rights. This position includes the inherent right of self-government.
Quebec has long claimed a veto over amendments to the Canadian Constitution to ensure that it is a full participant in the evolution of the Constitution and to have protection against amendments that could diminish the powers, rights and privileges of the National Assembly and the Government of Quebec.
The Government of Canada recognizes the legitimacy of those demands. Indeed, we are where we are today because, in 1981, the PQ government of the time abandoned its traditional demand of a veto in favour of the current amending formula. As far as we are concerned, our party has always, always supported a veto for Quebec.
Furthermore, the Government of Canada also recognizes that a constitutional amendment is a serious measure. It should be based on a broad consensus. No region of Canada should be excluded.
That is why the bill requires that the Government of Canada first obtain the consent of Quebec, Ontario and two provinces from both the western and Atlantic regions representing 50 per cent of the population of each of those two regions before proposing a constitutional amendment to Parliament.
Some people will say that this proposal does not respect the principle of equality of the provinces. I will answer that equality of the provinces means that all provinces have the same rights to make laws, to make decisions and to set policies to serve the interests of their citizens.
Our proposal does not change that reality. As the Minister of Justice indicated during question period, to change the Constitution today with the amending formula that exists it requires four small provinces to block an amendment but only two big provinces to achieve the same goal. It is a sign that the weight of the population is already incorporated in the Constitution that serves the country today.
Others will say, and we have already heard them, that the bill does not do justice to British Columbia. At this point I directly address the people of British Columbia. With the constitutional veto ascribed to western Canada in the bill, British Columbia will have a larger say on the Constitution than it has ever had in Canadian history. With almost half the population of the west, British Columbia will wield unprecedented weight. Some people are trying to characterize this tremendous progress as a setback. We should not believe them. It is the opposite. It is the start of a new era of British Columbia's strength in Canada.
In extending its veto to Quebec, Ontario, the Atlantic and western regions, our government is directly inspired by the major principles of our democracy. It is a solid, tangible measure that reconfirms the government's willingness to use practical, essential means to protect all regions of Canada with regard to future constitutional changes.
At a time when all modern societies must deal with an ever-changing world and environment, a world in which borders are disappearing, Canada must adapt. Accordingly, the third initiative put forward by our government at the beginning of the week is a response to the desire expressed by all Canadians for their governments to become closer to citizens.
The reform that the Minister of Human Resources Development will table in the House on Friday is an example of the pragmatic approach we want to take to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Government of Canada.
Let us be clear. We will not abandon our constitutional responsibilities to help unemployed Canadians re-enter the labour market, a constitutional obligation we have had since 1941. We will continue to act to get Canadians back to work in partnership with all those who share that objective.
It is important to recognize and respect the responsibility of the provinces in the areas of education and labour market training.
We appreciate that workers need training to keep their job or find a better one, and we are prepared to help them. But we will do so only with the consent of the provinces, respecting the priorities of each. We are putting forward a proposal for partnership, and our main partners in this area are the provinces. In Canada, we overcome our difficulties through a spirit of compromise and mutual respect.
The spirit of cooperation and partnership that inspires us should motivate us to continue building this country in an atmosphere of generosity and respect. The measures we are taking today mean change without revolution, progress without break-up.
In the final days of the Quebec referendum people across Canada demonstrated an outpouring of love for their country the likes of which I have never seen in my 32 years in public life. They spoke out in one loud voice of their deep, deep attachment to Quebec and of their yearning to keep Canada together.
I said to them then that I would not let them down. Mr. Speaker, today I stand before you, before the eyes of the whole nation, and say proudly that I have not let them down and I know that they will not let Canada down.
I want to say to my fellow Quebecers: You have demonstrated your commitment to Canada. I am telling you that we, in the House of Commons and across Canada, will show that we warranted your faith. You were right in believing that Canada can and will change to meet your aspirations and those of all Canadians, that Quebec can stand proud and tall inside Canada.
In the coming days we will hear from those who defend only their own interests. We know the agenda of the separatists. They want to destroy Canada.
And there are others in other parts of Canada who think that the way to win popularity and power is to divide, to attack, to pit Canadians against one another.
That is not the Canadian way. It has never been. The Canadian people are stronger, more open and more understanding than that. When the chips are down they stand up for Canada. That is what I ask them to do in the days and weeks ahead.
It is easier to attack than to work together. It is easier to shout than to listen. It is easier to destroy than to build. It is easier, yes, but it is wrong for ourselves, for our children and for our country. The shouters, the attackers, the destroyers have had their say. Now Canadians want to get on with building Canada. The initiatives we have tabled today and will table in the next few days will help us to get on with that job. I know Canadians across the country from B.C. to Quebec to Newfoundland and the north will support us.
That is why I call on all members of the House to support the motion of the government, which wants the House of Commons to recognize Quebec as a distinct society within Canada.