Mr. Speaker, in the midst of this year's ice storm and the devastation there was also great beauty. Canadians demonstrated a unifying sense of community that embraces the expanse of this great country.
In light of the initiatives during the ice storm and the current media focus on national unity it is essential that Canadians and Quebeckers have this context in mind when dealing with the future of our country.
Unity requires the ongoing effort of all Canadians, for my constituents of Kitchener Centre here in Ontario, the people of British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland to reach out to the hearts of Quebeckers, to make a connection on a personal level as we saw during the ice storm aftermath.
The future of this country cannot be seen as a clash of titans, as a tug of war between governments. It should not be depicted as a political issue, as some are trying to do.
This is a people issue. It is an issue of the Canadian people.