I can already hear government members mention in this House that the only way to guarantee Quebec a minimum of 25 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons is to amend the Constitution. At best, this amendment would be subject to the rule of the seven provinces or 50 per cent of the population or, at worst, to the rule of unanimity.
This is a smokescreen and a constitutional disinformation campaign.
In 1985-and I would urge the people across the way to listen-the principle of proportionate representation in the House of Commons stated in section 42(1)( a ) of the British North America Act was altered indirectly and very subtly through a simple act of Parliament.