Madam Speaker, I believe that it would be a grievous error to submit this treaty and the issue of minority rights to a referendum. Who would vote? The Reform Party is saying that it would be everyone in B.C. Some people may argue that all Canadians should vote.
I believe that democratic expression and the substance of that is what is valued. There are times for referendums. There are times when a referendum can be appropriate. Under our constitution our governments have the mandate and the responsibility to negotiate treaties. That is what was done in this case. That is what has been arrived at and that is what must be approved.