Madam Speaker, Bill C-230 tabled by the member for Okanagan-Shuswap is aimed at giving Canadians the impression that the Reform Party has a serious, carefully thought out plan for preserving national unity.
While our government is pursuing a positive strategy of renewing the federation and giving all Canadians hope for the future, the third party is telling Canadians to throw in the towel, to launch themselves into a negotiation process in the wake of a referendum that has not and may not take place.
This demonstrates yet again that the Reform Party does not have a real strategy for national unity. To put it simply, it has no vision for national unity and no vision for the country. The third party has patched together a series of third rate ideas and calls it a plan.
At a certain level I think I understand why this bill is being brought forward today. My hon. colleague, like many Canadians, was shaken by the last referendum. He is trying to respond to the concerns of Canadians but has chosen a misguided approach.
Our government's strategy is, above all, to deal with the real issues concerning all Canadians: economic growth, job creation, maximum government efficiency, as well as the protection of our social programs and our environment. But the federal government is also committed to providing certainty and legal clarification regarding the issues arising from Quebec's possible secession.
Earlier this year, we became involved in a case submitted to the Superior Court of Quebec by Guy Bertrand. We were forced to do so partly because of the Quebec government's position in this case. That government claims that the issues related to Quebec's secession do not come under the jurisdiction of the courts, that they have nothing to do with Canada's laws or Constitution, and that
Quebec can unilaterally determine how it will secede without taking Canada's Constitution or its judicial system into account.
Given the Quebec government's position and Judge Pidgeon's ruling, our government announced that it would refer to the Supreme Court the basic issues raised by the Pidgeon ruling.
Under that procedure the federal government is submitting to the supreme court questions of law and fact that it deems important for the court to hear and consider. We made this decision because the federal government owes an obligation to all Canadians to provide social, economic and legal stability. This obligation requires the federal government to provide certainty and legal clarification regarding the issues surrounding Quebec's possible secession.
Now is the time in this period of relative calm, with a future referendum not immediately looming, to seek judicial clarification of these issues.
By referring these issues, we are asking the Supreme Court to establish a legal framework and a common understanding that will allow us to address certain fundamental issues surrounding Quebec's secession.
Our decision to use this approach at this time does not in any way bring into question the right of Quebecers to express their views on their own future through an advisory referendum. We are appalled by the Quebec government's decision to place itself above the law and outside the jurisdiction of Canadian courts.
As for the result of the reference, the most important outcome will be that we finally have some certainty on the fundamental legal issues arising from the Quebec government's plan for secession. Nevertheless, the Government of Canada is pursuing its commitment to renew the federation through a wide range of constructive, well thought out initiatives.
In the February speech from the throne, our government indicated its willingness to withdraw from areas such as labour market training, forestry and mining development, social housing and recreation. Further progress was made during the constructive discussions and the first ministers meeting in June. This work is ongoing and we are on track with our plan.
At the first ministers meeting it was agreed that our government would continue to work with the provinces in the coming months, building on the work of the ministerial council on social policy reform and renewal to develop a new partnership for securing and modernizing the social union.
In the weeks following the first ministers meeting the federal and British Columbia governments agreed to a full bilateral review of the responsibilities and roles of the federal and provincial governments in the management of the Pacific salmon fishery.
These are the types of measures that build goodwill, measures brought about through partnerships based on mutual respect and the desire to enter the 21st century as a renewed, united federation.
These measures may not be flamboyant enough for my colleague across the way, but they show that the Canadian federation is flexible and benefits all its partners.
We are proving that Canada works and that separation is not a solution. We are proving that another choice is available, namely the renewal of our federation, and that it is a best choice. Polls show that most Quebecers favour this option. I would therefore urge the third party to support this option.
This is the kind of positive attitude we need, in Canada, to see us into the 21st century, all the while remaining united. This is the attitude we, in the Liberal government, have. We do not sink into negativity; we are not afraid to take positive measures.
We want to unite Canadians, not divide them. We are also resolutely committed to a national reconciliation process.
We are putting in place initiatives that will lead to greater co-operation among governments and will reinforce the economic union and social fabric of this country. We are taking a step by step approach to bring about real practical changes. In so doing we are demonstrating the flexibility of the federation and undermining the myths that build support for separatism. This is how we will achieve national reconciliation.
The Premier of Quebec himself, Lucien Bouchard, has realized that he had better set his separatist designs aside and focus on concerns regarded as priorities by Quebecers: the economy, job creation and putting the fiscal house in order.
According to a Gallup poll released earlier this month, no fewer than 45 per cent of employed Quebecers are afraid to lose their jobs. That is the kind of concern that must be looked into and that we, in our government and our party, are presently looking into.
Quebecers want their government to take part in the discussions with the federal government and the other provinces, so that the interests of Quebec are represented.
They want change, of course, but change within Canada. That is the message they conveyed in the October referendum and this government, our party, is in the process of acting of on this message.
The bill proposed by the hon. member for Okanagan-Shuswap does not respond to this message, nor does it correspond to the wishes of Quebecers and other Canadians who are asking their politicians to work together constructively to renew the federation, promote economic growth and work toward creating a climate suitable for job creation.
It is a far cry from the measured approach our government is taking to clarify issues and allow for a constructive dialogue to take place well in advance of a future referendum. The leader of the third party may believe he has 20-20 vision on national unity issues but this bill shows he has a big blind spot.
For these reasons I cannot support Bill C-230.