Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that my motion has produced such a good debate. I hope through it all we have learned much about each other's opinions, our differences and our similarities. Surely that is what part of this was all about.
I want to say especially to my hon. colleagues from the Bloc that they should not ever see this as an attack on Quebec. It has always been my desire to see the country stay united with a strong Quebec with its unique culture as part of a strong Canada where people are seen as equal and differences are tolerated.
However the hon. member should realize that many other Canadians see the use of a phrase like distinct society as the way for a particular majority in any province to have its way over a minority. I would not tolerate that kind of situation in my own province of British Columbia let alone in the province of Quebec or in any other province of Canada.
Equality certainly does not mean uniformity. No one in his right mind would think that. We in this country are a very diverse people. If we are going to get along in this nation we must not use phrases which for many people are seen as giving anyone or any group special status over anybody else. After all we have Canadians of aboriginal background. We have Canadians of Ukrainian background, Canadians of Italian background and I could go on and on.
A nation cannot survive as a bunch of separate and distinct societies. It will never weave the kind of fabric that is needed to keep the blanket of the country together. Sooner or later it will unravel and there will be no country at all. Je suis Canadien. I was born a Canadian, I will die a Canadian.