Mr. Speaker, before question period, I was saying that the leader of the
Bloc Quebecois and I met with the premier of Newfoundland and with the Leader of the Opposition and a third person, the leader of the third party in the Newfoundland legislature, to discuss the proposed amendment to term 17 in the Canadian Constitution.
This meeting was held May 29. We discussed two issues: first, the recognition of the democratic process and, second, the protection of francophone minorities. I think no one will be surprised that we in the Bloc Quebecois have always been concerned about the rights of francophone minorities across Canada.
We discussed in very broad terms the democratic process and the rights of francophones. We know how they proceeded in that province; we know that, when the referendum question was drafted, even some of the Liberal government members were opposed to its wording because, in their opinion, it was not specific enough, it was too ambiguous, it very much favoured the yes side at the expense of the no side. We also know that, when the referendum question was adopted by the Newfoundland legislature, the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the third party were against it. Furthermore we know that religious authorities in Newfoundland had major concerns about the wording of the question, which they deemed not specific enough. They thought the amendment would reduce their jurisdiction and powers. We are aware of the low rate of participation in the referendum. However we in the Bloc Quebecois simply recognize the democratic process, which was discussed at that meeting.
For us, the question was legitimate since it was chosen by duly elected members of the legislature. This referendum was also held in accordance with good practice, in that both the yes side and the no side agreed to express their views and to work to publicize the approach they favoured in relation to the amendment of Term 17 in the Constitution. This was a legitimate project, a very clear process in that province.
We, as members of the House, must acknowledge that. Whether or not we support denominational schools, whether or not we approve the proposition made by the Government of Newfoundland, the population has rendered a clear verdict: 54 per cent of Newfoundlanders said yes to the constitutional amendment proposed by their provincial government. In other words, the Government of Newfoundland had its political decision confirmed through a referendum, and this is sacred for the Bloc Quebecois.
We must not interfere with the democratic process. This is why we support the proposed amendment to Term 17 of the Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada. Following our meeting with the Newfoundland premier and the others I mentioned earlier, the Bloc Quebecois leader immediately sent a letter to the premier, to inform him of our support.
I will take the time to read this very short letter. It is, of course, addressed to the Hon. Brian Tobin, Premier of Newfoundland.
Honourable Premier,
The federal government is about to table in the House of Commons your province's request to amend Term 17 of the Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada, so as to restructure Newfoundland's school system.
Your government proceeded by way of a referendum and a majority of voters supported the amendment.
The Bloc Quebecois has decided to support Newfoundland's decision, since it was made in compliance with recognized democratic rules.
However, we are concerned about the inadequate school rights of Newfoundland's French speaking minority. Therefore, we strongly hope that your government will take the opportunity provided by the restructuring of the school legislation to give francophones in your province, through legislative and administrative means, full responsibility for the management of their schools.
This letter accurately reflects the discussions that took place during the meeting with the Premier of Newfoundland.
As you can see, this is a far cry from the issues referred to by Mr. Tobin regarding this meeting, as reported in various newspapers, including Le Devoir , in its issue of Thursday, May 30, 1996. I was stunned when I read the article in that newspaper, since I was present at the meeting.
The title read: "Constitutional amendment for Newfoundland: Tobin pleased by the Bloc's position. According to him, the sovereignist party recognizes the rule of law under any circumstances in Canada". I do not know where the premier got such information. This issue was certainly not discussed during the meeting. As I said, we talked about the democratic process, the referendum and the fact that the population had clearly expressed itself through that referendum.
A bit further on, we also read: "The Bloc Quebecois and, by extension the sovereignist movement as a whole, shows that the rule of law must prevail in Canada, whatever the circumstances, according to Brian Tobin". There is even an allusion to the fact that, since the Bloc Quebecois endorses the approach that the Government of Newfoundland wishes to take, it is even saying that the Canadian federation is working well, that it is far from being a prison, that it is possible to amend the Constitution.
These topics were not discussed, as I said earlier. And, by the way, how do you expect that we in the Bloc Quebecois, we who represent the people of Quebec, can recognize the rule of law of a Constitution that we never signed? Has everyone forgotten that Quebec did not sign the Constitution Act of 1982. Mr. Tobin must be aware of it. If not, I hope he is listening today, but I am sure he knows it full well. I am sure he was just trying to score political points on an issue that is nonetheless very important.
We in the Bloc Quebecois have not stooped to this sort of political trick. We have simply bowed to democracy, which expressed its view of Term 17.
I will conclude as follows. If Mr. Tobin and the Government of Newfoundland's approach works, it is no thanks to the Constitution, but rather to the fact that the people of Newfoundland spoke democratically and that certain responsible members of the House of Commons are acting accordingly.
The person making irresponsible and inflammatory remarks and acting like the warder of the Canadian Constitution is not a member of the Bloc, he is none other than the Prime Minister of Canada. If the supreme Constitutional gaoler, the source of Canadian truth, listens to the democratic expression of the people, this precedent does not mean that the Constitution is flexible and effective, but rather that the democratic choice of a people in a referendum is decisive and irreversible.
The history of Newfoundland is and will be useful to us in Quebec. As I said at the start of my speech, the people of Newfoundland became Canadians in 1948 with only a small majority, with only 52.34 per cent in the second referendum. Today, in 1996, with only 54 per cent, the government of Newfoundland will throw the whole system of education into a state of upheaval, thereby causing fear, anxiety and questions.
The best part of the democratic process is when Newfoundland taxpayers spoke, their decision was heard. Newfoundlanders have changed this fear and anxiety and these questions into a coalition among themselves aimed at meeting challenges.
Elected officials worked, as they did in 1948, as responsible statesmen, independent of party affiliation-I saw it when I met the premier of Newfoundland with the two other party leaders-and will work in the future to advance the people of Newfoundland and to improve their future.
I truly hope that the Bloc Quebecois' action in this matter will inspire the view taken by certain individuals of the democratic choice the people of Quebec will make in the very near future, I hope.