Mr. Speaker, the government imposes fines on British Columbia and Alberta to impose its outmoded view of federalism. It dismisses fundamental objections to its ill-conceived Quebec package from western provinces out of hand.
All of this undermines rather than strengthens national unity. In its misguided attempt to appease Quebec separatists, in its ham-fisted approach to retaining federal control in areas of provincial jurisdiction, the government runs the risk of pushing provinces like British Columbia and Alberta out the back door.
Does the Minister of Human Resources Development realize that his steadfast resistance to real decentralization is as great a threat to the national unity of the country as the efforts of Quebec separatists?