Mr. Speaker, it is true that the federal government is contemplating taking part in the proceedings before the Quebec superior court. I would, however, like to point out that our reason for this is not connected with the positions of either Mr. Bertrand or Mr. Singh, but rather the position taken by the Government of Quebec.
On April 12 for the Bertrand case, and May 1 for the Singh case, the Government of Quebec presented two requests for dismissal without a hearing of the two cases which challenged the legislation or other measures being used to make a declaration of sovereignty legally binding.
In support of those requests, the Government of Quebec takes the position that neither Canadian courts nor the Canadian Constitution have anything to do with Quebec's declaration of sovereignty.
The question we are asking at this time is whether the Government of Canada ought to have something to say in response to this position, that is to say the position of the Government of Quebec.