The hon. member cannot and should not suggest that there is not a deep respect for the decision that the population of
Quebec must make. We shall do everything in our power to persuade them to vote for Canada if there is a future referendum. We recall for everyone that they have twice voted for Canada in the past.
If democracy and the will of the people is what really motivates us, then we have to worry about a scenario in which there is a consultative referendum, then the next day a small group in the leadership of the government decide unilaterally to declare that the country is separate and that Canada has come to an end. That is not consistent with the rule of law.
There must be the law and democracy hand in hand and that is the way that Canadians wish to have us approach this issue.