Madam Speaker, it is interesting that Bloc members are concerned about the government being here, but I think it is more important that the Bloc members be here to understand how the rest of the country feels about their intent on removing Quebec from Canada.
I spent three months travelling in the province of British Columbia listening to how concerned the people of B.C. were that Quebec was thinking of leaving the country. It is not too much to ask that the people from Quebec who are talking about taking Quebec out stay to hear the debate and to hear the emotion and the concern that the rest of Canada has that they reconsider the direction in which they want to go.
There are those of us in this country who feel that there is a better federation and that we can establish better working relations between provinces and the federal government. Yes, it may take a change in government, but it is possible for the provinces to find a better way of working within the federation.
It is equally important that the people of Quebec understand that there is no certainty of the rest of Canada that in the event that Quebec leaves, they cannot depend on the rest of the country remaining intact, they cannot depend on this nice cozy relationship with the rest of Canada. They cannot depend on the 75% of Canadians who live outside Quebec treating them as equals. If they honestly believe that, they are fooling themselves.
It is important that they take reality checks to the province of Quebec so that the people who have to vote on a clear question and the people who have to make up the clear majority, whatever that might be, clearly understand the repercussions of deciding to leave the country.
I do not think that the Bloc members have been honest with the people of Quebec. I do not think that their intent is to be honest to the people of Quebec, because I do not think the people of Quebec would accept the reality that a clear question would put them in.
It is important—