Mr. Speaker, on October 30 the periodical Diplomat hosted a luncheon for over fifty members of the diplomatic corps posted in Ottawa, at which they had an opportunity to listen to the Leader of the Official Opposition and to discuss the political situation in Quebec and in Canada, as well as their respective positions in the world.
This was a rare opportunity for diplomats to hear information that is not part of the Canadian government's official line on Quebec. As the Leader of the Official Opposition said, and I quote: "Quebecers have been waiting thirty years for the changes they would like to see and that have been promised them. The many negotiations and the resounding constitutional failures of recent years have made it plain to Quebecers that renewal of the Canadian federation to reflect their aspirations is impossible".
It is most fortunate that there are a large number of members of the Bloc Quebecois in Ottawa, thus giving the international community a better picture of what is really going on in Quebec society.