Stéphane Dion

[Calgary Declaration, May 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot comment on a survey when we have only seen part of it. Only a few excerpts were published in the press and we can see from the wording of the questions that people were not really asked what the exact content of the Calgary declaration was.

On the other hand, according to a poll whose results were recently released in B.C. this past January, 54% of the people surveyed in British Columbia were familiar with the Calgary agreement, 62% supported the unique character of Quebec society, 69% supported the role of the National Assembly, 80% supported the Calgary agreement, and 66% would have no objection to inclusion of this agreement in the Constitution.

[Calgary Declaration, April 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member really believes that the member for Sherbrooke thinks Canada is not enough, she does not understand his political philosophy.

He has stated that Canada is a wonderful country, which we can always make better, and that the Calgary declaration outlines principles to help us further improve this country we intend to keep.

[Calgary Declaration, April 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered yes to this question.

The concepts of “unique” and “distinct” mean the same thing: a commitment from this federation to show the necessary flexibility to adjust to the Quebec reality as it does to all other realities across Canada.

[Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act, April 2nd, 1998]

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

[Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act, April 2nd, 1998]

moved that the bill be concurred in.

[National Unity, March 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian unity is progressing nicely. Support for it is increasing, while support for the Bloc is in free fall. Things are going well.

We now have the opportunity to have a leader in Quebec who is popular for various reasons, including the fact that he can be both a Quebecker and a Canadian. My door is always open to the leader of the NDP. All suggestions on national unity are welcome.

[Calgary Declaration, March 25th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the premier and Manitoba's legislature for their contribution to the Calgary process.

On Thursday, March 20 the Manitoba legislature unanimously adopted a resolution which reflected a wide consensus among Manitobans with regard to the Calgary declaration.

The Calgary declaration reflects the support of Canadians for a federation that always seeks to ensure greater fairness and equality, as well as respect for our country's diversity, which includes the unique character of Quebec society.

[Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs, March 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I still believe the member to be an honest man and I will give him the opportunity to prove it.

Two days later, a correction appeared in the same papers to the effect that I had never spoken these words ascribed to me at the time.

Secondly, on another matter, what I said yesterday I said because I am a Quebecker and because I do not want my society to find itself in a situation that flies in the face of democracy in which a government would be trying to grab all jurisdictions not its own in an unacceptable state of confusion.

[Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs, March 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, that is a false accusation and slanderous.

[Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs, March 24th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I stated yesterday that, should Quebec secede unilaterally, the Quebec government would not be in a position to take over all the functions currently available to all Canadians without the agreement of the federal government. I presented an argument to this effect.

If the opposition leader can see a flaw in my argument, he should point it out, but he must understand that, failing this, he is wasting the time of the House by asking totally unfounded questions.