Pearson-Shoyama Institute
Archives
Office of the Prime Minister
Ottawa, Ontario
KIA 0A2
Press Release from PMO
Date: November 27, 1995
For release : Immediate
The Prime Minister delivers on Referendum Commitments with initiatives
for change
The Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien, today announced three initiatives for
change that deliver on his commitments made during the Quebec referendum campaign:
- to recognize, within Canada, that Quebec is a Distinct Society;
- not to proceed with any constitutional change that affects Quebec without Quebecers'
consent:
- and to undertake changes to bring services and the decision- making process closer to
citizens, initially in the field of labor-market training.
Distinct Society
The Government of Canada tabled today in the House of Commons a notice of motion that
recognizes Quebec as a Distinct Society within Canada that includes a French-speaking
majority, a unique culture and a tradition of civil law.
Once it is passed, this motion will constitute a solemn commitment by the only elected
body that can speak on behalf of all Canadians. It will indicate to all citizens and all
federal government authorities that it is the will of the House of Commons that the
distinct character of Quebec society be recognized within the Canadian federation.
"The initiatives I am announcing today are substantial, " the prime Minister
added. "They are not constitutional in nature because the Government of Quebec has
stated categorically that it does not want to participate in constitutional discussions.
If those conditions were to change -- that is, if Quebec and other regions consented --
the initiatives we are announcing today could be incorporated into the Constitution."
"This is just the start of a process of change , not the final outcome. What is
important is that those changes be innovative and realistic and respect the will of
Canadians. The initiatives for change that I have announced today clearly go in that
direction." the Prime Minister concluded.
Veto
The Minister of Justice, Allan Rock, will table a bill in the House of Commons on
Wednesday that will require the consent of Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic and Western
regions before any constitutional amendment can be proposed in Parliament by the
Government of Canada.
Currently, only the House of Commons has an absolute veto over any constitutional
amendments. The bill gives Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic and Western regions a veto
over any constitutional amendment, including changes to national institutions, the
creation of new provinces and amendments regarding the distribution of powers.
Through this measure, the Government. of Canada is keeping its commitment to Quebecers and
ensuring their increased protection. The Government of Canada also, recognizes that the
constitutional amendment process is of interest to all parts of the country. That is why
the federal government has chosen to lend its veto to the four regions of the country.
Labor Market Training
The Minister of Human Resources Development, Lloyd Axworthy, will table a bill in the
House of Commons, in the coming days that will, transform the Unemployment Insurance
program , into an Employment Insurance program. Under this reform, the Government of
Canada will adopt an approach that respects provincial jurisdiction in the field of
education and the role of the provincial governments in labor-market training.
Accordingly, the Government of Canada will withdraw from labor-market training,
apprenticeship programs, co-operative education programs and work place-based training;
and it will no longer purchase training courses from provincial establishments.
Other measures, in the bill propose a genuine partnership with the provinces to
eliminate program overlap and help Canadians find a job and rediscover the dignity of
work.
"These three initiatives that the government will undertake in the coming days are
a tangible response to the desires expressed by my fellow Quebecers during the referendum
campaign, They also represent another step in renewing the Canadian federation in
accordance ,with the aspirations of all Canadians," the Prime Minister said.
BILL ON THE REGIONAL VETO
The bill on the regional veto that will be tabled in the House of Commons will require
the consent of Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic and Western regions before any
constitutional amendment can be proposed in Parliament by the Government of Canada.
Currently, only the House of Commons has an absolute veto over any constitutional
amendment. The bill guarantees Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic and Western regions a
general veto over any constitutional amendment in areas where they do not already have an
absolute veto or a right of withdrawal. This veto will apple to changes to national
institutions such as the Senate, the creation of new provinces and any amendments
regarding the distribution of powers.
Under the bill, a constitutional amendment will have to receive the consent of at least
six provinces, including Quebec, Ontario, two provinces from the Atlantic region
representing more than 5011, of that region's population and two provinces from the
Western region representing more than 5017, of the West's population, before it can be
proposed to Parliament. The federal government could not proceed to table an amendment if
one of the four regions refused to give its consent, even if seven provinces (or more)
representing 509,' of Canada's population passed resolutions in favor of the amendment.
The consent of the provinces and the regions will be able to be expressed in various
forums: by direct notice, by a vote in the legislative assemblies, or by referendum.
The bill does not amend the Canadian Constitution. Nevertheless, an act of the federal
Parliament is a serious measure. This law will become part of Canada's consolidated
statutes and will be binding on the current government and on succeeding governments.
In tabling this bill, the Government of Canada is keeping its commitment to Quebecers
and ensuring them increased protection within the Canadian federation. Moreover, the
Government of Canada also recognizes that the constitutional amendment process is of
interest to all parts of the country. That is why the federal government is lending its
veto to the four regions of the country
Now is not the time to hold a series of constitutional discussions, because the
Government of Quebec is unequivocally devoted to its secessionist option. If the
conditions were to change that is, were Quebec and the other regions to agree, the veto
proposed by this bill could be incorporated into the Constitution.
MOTION ON RECOGNIZING QUEBEC AS A DISTINCT SOCIETY.
The Prime Minister of Canada made a commitment during the referendum campaign to
recognize that Quebec forms a distinct society within Canada.
The motion that will be tabled in the House of Commons is a tangible measure by the
federal government in response to that commitment.
The Prime Minister of Canada has a duty to preserve national unity and thus govern in
the interests of all Canadians. It is in that spirit that the decision was made to table a
motion to recognize the distinct character of Quebec.
The motion will make it possible to set out clearly, very soon after the referendum,
the support of Canadians' elected representatives on the issue of Quebec as a distinct
society.
The motion calls for the House :
- to recognize that Quebec is a distinct society within Canada;
- to recognize that Quebec's distinct society includes its French- speaking majority,
unique culture and civil law tradition;
- to undertake to be guided by this reality; and
- to encourage all components of the legislative and executive branches of government to
take note of this recognition and to be guided in their conduct accordingly.
The motion does not amend the Canadian Constitution. Nevertheless, it is a solemn and
important commitment by federal elected representatives, who are the only ones to speak on
behalf of all Canadians.
Once it is passed, this resolution will indicate-ate to all citizens and all federal
government authorities that it is the will of the House of Commons that the distinct
character of Quebec society be recognized within the Canadian federation.
Now is not the time for constitutional discussions, because the Government of Quebec
indicated unequivocally that it did not want to take part in such discussions. If those
conditions were to change that is, were Quebec and the other regions to agree, the
resolution on distinct society could be incorporated into the Constitution.
The distinct character of Quebec-- the fact that it is different-- is an obvious and
inevitable reality. This resolution formally recognizes that fact.
| 
