Mr. Speaker, the member talks about the western provinces and the regions. Certainly the Prime Minister has left the door open to a different Canadian configuration with the regions. In examining the proposition that calls for a recognition of four regions, he is actually following a study on Confederation written for the Canada West Foundation by one Preston Manning, who called for the western provinces as one particular entity.
When the member opposite talks about the five regions of Canada and asks is Alberta or British Columbia a separate region, I would like to quote the House leader of the Reform Party, who says the five regions of Canada means British Columbia, not Alberta. The answer by the House leader of the Reform Party: "Not necessarily Alberta and British Columbia. All the provincial governments now have a say in the ratification formula".
When they want to talk about regions, I wish the Reform Party would ascertain whether they want regional status for Alberta or British Columbia.