Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and his willingness to look at the questions that have been raised today. I hope that is contagious and others will do likewise.
I understand the key point. If we make a decision today we do not necessarily have to insist that the decision is forever. I understand the possibilities of that.
However, here is what happened in 1949. Promises were made in order to attract people and to get them to join Canada. Less than 50 years later we are saying: We got you in, now it does not matter anymore if we change the rules or the promises that were made.
Second, and perhaps even more important, this is the wonderful opportunity we have been given. We passed it, it went to the other House and they said: "Whoa, we are not happy about this. Here are some things that could be done, where numbers warrant". That was in the official government documentation. The parents were told: "You will be able to have your kind of denominational school where numbers warrant".
My colleague from Broadview-Greenwood has introduced with another colleague these same amendments: where numbers warrant; and in order to be able to determine and direct. That is the beauty of the wonderful opportunity we could seize, because we have changed from 1949. We can change from 1949 and remove those rights. We can say forget it, that it is over. Some people will argue that we have not but let them look me straight in the face when they say that. Here is an opportunity with these amendments: where numbers warrant and to determine and direct, where it would change them but would not eliminate them, would not remove them.
Surely no one is going to argue that a right that is subject to provincial legislation is no longer a constitutional right. Or at least let them stand and say to remove that constitutional right. I could live more easily with that kind of debate but the challenge that is thrown to us by quoting a well known American personality is one that is available to us today. We can move from where we were but in a sensible way and still respond fairly to everyone's needs.