Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the hon. member's interest in these matters, and I thank him.
The Pentecostals make up 7% of the population of Newfoundland. It could no doubt be recalled that, where constitutional law is concerned, a minority cannot be subordinated to a majority. I am prepared to admit, with the hon. member, that there is an obligation in a civilized society to ensure that minorities are adequately protected.
What is involved here, however, is the right of a government to modernize its educational system, because this is first and foremost an amendment to ensure that the Newfoundland school system will enter the 21st century as more modern, more efficient, more responsive to the needs of the labour market.
I am tempted to answer my colleague's question with another question. Does he believe that constitutions are immutable? I myself believe that they must adjust to society, that constitutions must adjust to individuals. There is no reason to believe that a constitution or a constitutional amendment is immutable. Such logic would tie our hands and preclude any possibility of change.
What has to be taken into consideration, what we must ask ourselves as parliamentarians, is the following: Did the Pentecostals have the opportunity to make their points of view known? Are there sufficient guarantees that minorities were consulted and are in favour of the constitutional amendment?
I would remind the hon. member that the two Pentecostal MLAs in Newfoundland voted in favour of the government resolution. I believe that this is the best guarantee available to us to conclude that a democratic debate has taken place and that all minorities had a chance to make their views heard.