Mr. Speaker, the summit of the Americas has shown us the true face of our federal representatives.
Secrecy, scheming and paranoia characterized the attitude of the Minister for International Trade and his associates as they prepared for this summit, from which almost everyone was excluded.
Arrogance, pettiness and a casual disregard summed up the Canadian government's treatment of the Premier of Quebec, who was relegated to the role of observer at an event being organized in his own jurisdiction, in our national capital.
The reality is that Quebec is the sixth strongest economic power in the Americas. The reality is that Quebec is a developed, mature nation which is open to the world. The reality is that it would have been only natural for Quebec to be at the table in the same capacity as all sovereign nations and to negotiate itself the agreements which will change the lives of its people. The reality is that it is becoming increasingly evident that the Canadian federation is an obstacle to the development of a modern Quebec.