Mr. Speaker, we did not, and would not, do such a thing, because of our respect for democracy. For us it is a matter of one person, one vote. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the law.
It would have been most extraordinary, if we had said “Votes in sovereignist ridings hold more weight than those in federalist ridings. Let us weight them differently, arrange things so that it passes, and then we will let people know the outcome. Vote first and then we will tell you the outcome. We will concoct one”. That is what they are telling us.
This makes no sense. The same goes for clarity. If the question had been “Do you want Quebec to become a sovereign country?” and then the whole debate had centred on partnership, they would have said “Aha, there was a trick in it. You referred to a partnership. You did not dare put it in the question”. Damned if you do, and damned if you don't, as they say. We are used to that here.
Quebecers have wakened up. Let Canadians do the same, and open their eyes to the fact that the Liberals are misinforming them about Quebec. Let them send their own representatives to talk to Quebecers, equal to equal. Let them respect the fact that Quebecers are a people, just as they are. We are neither superior nor inferior. For once in this whole business, we want to speak together on an equal footing, with the same status, not inferior and not superior.
We will never be the first country in the world. There is no such thing. This is a ridiculous illusion.
We want to have our country, like the Canadians have theirs. Perhaps then we will be able to get along as friends, which we have trouble doing while under the same roof.