Mr. Speaker, I very much welcome that question. I am not sure whether the member was listening to my comments, but that is precisely why I opened my discussions of the New Democratic Party position on this debate with a proud reference to the social democratic forum and the recommendations that were endorsed overwhelmingly at our federal convention in August. It recognizes the right of self-determination of the people of Quebec. That is what the bill is about.
What the supreme court ruling did, and we welcomed this clarification, is it acknowledged the right of self-determination of the Quebec people. It also said that there is an obligation on the federal government under certain conditions to recognize a vote, a clear decision on a clear question that would indicate that the people of Quebec want to separate from Canada.
The supreme court decision that is reflected in the legislation now before us acknowledges exactly that right. It also makes it clear that it is not possible to take the view that there is no other impact, that there are no other implications for the rest of Canadians. Therefore it acknowledges both a right and a responsibility, a circumscribed, very particular, limited role on the part of the federal government. It is around our doing the most careful and sensitive job possible of defining what that role is in which the Parliament of Canada is now engaged.