Mr. Speaker, I think the main problem lies in the attitude of the federal government.
I have an example of co-operative decentralized federalism. I recall, at the time of former Prime Minister Mulroney, that in the negotiations on regional development plans the provinces were held in the highest respect. At the time, it was a real partnership in both democratic and constitutional terms.
We will recall the Meech Lake accord. Was it scrapped by western Canadians? It took five or six Liberals, no more. Back in 1990, 92% of Canadians were in favour of reconciliation, control over federal spending and respect for the regions, particularly Quebec's cultural identity. It was a historic setback to the development of the country.
Both economically and constitutionally, I think it is through negotiation and mutual respect that people will arrive at a federation that could function effectively.
I repeat that the disaster of the failed Meech Lake accord, which was a landmark event, was due to four or five Liberals, not to all Canadians, and not even to Albertans or British Columbians. It took four or five Liberals, goaded on by a former prime minister and by the man who is now Prime Minister, to scrap the Meech Lake accord, which would have given us constitutional peace and would have freed us up to work on other more constructive things. If it had been signed at least it would not have been necessary to pass Bill C-20, which I think will remain in the back of the minds of all French Canadians and Quebecers.
I think that this will be a major weapon, should there one day be another referendum, to remind Quebecers that the federal government wanted to force them to stay in the Canadian federation. Force is not the way to keep someone in a family let alone seven million people in a country.