Mr. Speaker, despite the polls and the lessons of Meech and Charlottetown the government is still favouring a distinct society clause and constitutional veto for Quebec. Both of these concepts are the products of a top down, legalistic approach to national unity which has not worked for 30 years.
Recognizing distinctiveness in Canada is not the problem; it is how to do it. The alternative bottom up approach would be to give each province the practical tools to protect and nurture its own distinctiveness, and real control over resources, social services, language and culture.
Is the national unity committee of cabinet giving serious consideration to this alternative approach to achieve provincial distinctiveness? If so, who is the spokesperson on that committee for that alternative approach?