Jean Chrétien

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am working within the federal jurisdiction. I am the Prime Minister of Canada. I invite the members of this Parliament to make a decision on the distinct society and on the right of veto for the four regions of Canada, within the capacities of this Parliament. There is nothing mysterious in that.

We, the members, are the ones who will all have to make up our minds a few days from now. When everyone has voted, then it will be a done deal, yes. The members of this Parliament, the large majority, thanks to the Liberal Party of which I am the leader, will have voted in favour of a distinct society and to ensure that the veto will be shared with the four regions of Canada.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the fact that they have reservations does not mean I spoke to them. I am simply saying that I made commitments in my capacity as Prime Minister during the referendum campaign, saying that I would deliver the goods. I have said that, in the past, I and my party have recognized Quebec as a distinct society and that we would recognize it as such in the future. That is what we shall do in the very near future.

We are taking steps, and that is the commitment I have made, not to change the Canadian Constitution without the consent of Quebec. There will be legislation on this, in Parliament. I am most anxious to see how the critic will vote, whether she will vote against the decision of this Parliament not to change the Constitution without the consent of Quebec.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, for the Reform Party there is a reality. Is the Government of Quebec a legitimate government? Like the government of any other province it as been elected and I have to respect that reality.

I would rather have another government, which would be possible the day the Reform Party supports this party rather than supporting the Bloc Quebecois in the House all the time.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we are not at the stage of changing the Constitution. We are saying we are changing the way we, the federal government, will use our veto powers.

The House of Commons has a veto power. We say which way we will use it. The Constitution remains the same. The amending formula is the same and there is no proposition at this time to change the Constitution.

If the Government of Quebec were to say it is willing to change the Constitution to have a distinct society, as it is written in the Constitution at this time, we must have the consent of seven provinces, representing 50 per cent of the population.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the member just criticized me for trying to propose a regional veto, because some provinces would like a veto for each and every province.

What we have done was to impose on the federal government a technique to use our own veto right. If Quebec no longer has a veto right as it thought it had once, it is because the PQ government of the time opted for a formula different from the Victoria proposal and, in doing so, eliminated the veto right that Quebec was seeking.

I can understand the despair of Bloc Quebecois members, who can see that we are solving two problems at once, in that we are recognizing Quebec as a distinct society, while also taking action to prevent any constitutional change without Quebec's consent. This is a commitment that all members of this House will soon be making. It will quite something to see the Bloc member oppose a motion seeking to make it possible for Quebec to have a veto right.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear to the hon. member that the Prime Minister represents all Canadians, not just English-speaking Canadians.

I also want to tell him that Quebecers rejected the very ambiguous separatist proposal. Now his party must comply with the will of the people, which means it must work within Canada.

As for the regional veto proposal, it was accepted by all Canadian premiers a long time ago. It makes perfect sense to me that Ontario, with 40 per cent of the country's population, should get such a veto, as well as two provinces representing a majority in western Canada, and likewise in eastern Canada. Such a proposal does not belittle anyone.

I think that, in Canada, we must all co-operate, and this is what we are proposing to do with this offer. I can see the despondency of Bloc Quebecois members who are about to vote against a distinct society status for the province of Quebec.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in the announcement I made on manpower training yesterday there was a very big move of clarification. It is a complaint that was mentioned by all the premiers over the last two years. However, we had to wait for the Minister of Human Resources Development, who will soon be tabling his bill on the reforms to the unemployment insurance program, before suggesting any reforms in that field.

I have discussed the strategy with the premiers and with this caucus. I know the Reform Party's position on this strategy is exactly the same as that of the Bloc Quebecois.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I made some commitments in Montreal on behalf of the people of Canada.

Perhaps the leader of the third party does not agree with what I said. Of course it was at a time when he was offering subsidies for Quebecers to move out of Quebec. That was his solution to national unity.

We want to fulfil our commitments and get back very quickly to dealing with the real problems of the country: jobs and growth. However, because the leader of the third party cannot attack the government on the substance of the operation of the nation, he would like to discuss the Constitution around the country. That is not our intention. It is to deal with the economy and job creation and dispose of these commitments within weeks.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I made a speech in Montreal that was very clear. It was in written form and I am pleased the leader of the third party read it. It is exactly what I promised.

I said that the Quebec people because of their language, culture and the civil code are different from the rest of Canada. I have no problem with that.

I am offering a possibility for the rest of Canada to have something to say in the evolution of Canada as proposed by the leader of the third party who talked about regions in his document called "New Confederation" and said that all regions were entitled to equal status in constitutional negotiations. That is exactly what we offered the four regions of Canada.

[Renewal Of Canadian Federalism, November 28th, 1995]

I am not ashamed to admit I know that Quebec's Civil Code dates back to the Napoleonic Code. If it offends the Leader of the Opposition, too bad for him. It is a fact of history. I can hardly wait to rise in this House and vote for Quebec's recognition as a distinct society, and I will watch the Leader of the Opposition vote against it, with a smile on my face.