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Archives - Press Room


THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC SERVICE IS A GREAT VALUE
TO PUT AT THE HEART OF THE UNITY DEBATE

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, August 28, 1996 – Addressing today the members of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada in Victoria, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Stéphane Dion, stated that the quality of the public service to the people is a major value which is at the heart of the national unity debate.

"If all Canadians were focused on the benefits of the public services we enjoy because of this federation, I am sure that nobody would be discussing breaking it up."

"The quality of public service to people necessitates a balance between certain principles for government action", said the minister, who stressed two balances to be worked towards: "...the balance between recognizing equality and diversity, and the balance between solidarity and subsidiarity."

Minister Dion believes that equality of treatment does not mean uniformity of treatment and that "public service falls to mediocrity when equality is confused with uniformity".

Illustrating his point, Minister Dion said that "when the federal government works with the B.C. government to assist coastal communities and laid-off fishers because of falling salmon stocks, it does not necessarily follow the same pattern that is used to compensate Saskatchewan farmers in the event of a bad harvest".

And the same principle applies, according to the Minister, "in the controversial issue of recognizing Quebec’s linguistic and cultural difference as a fundamental characteristic of Canada. It responds to a unique need and circumstance, without undermining the equality of provinces or of citizens".

Competing principles not competing governments

Minister Dion deplores the tendency to lose sight of this balance of principles, and the focus on the provision of services, and to start to look at federal-provincial relations as a "zero-sum game". Or as a "win" or "loss" for one level of government.

"In Quebec, for example, too many thinkers and politicians side with the Government of Quebec and rashly equate any increase in its powers with the interests of Quebecers. They let compliance with the so-called traditional demands of Quebec monopolize their thinking on the issue of the division of roles between Ottawa and Quebec City. They completely lose sight of the value of public service."

According to Minister Dion, "the famous "traditional demands", which incidentally keep changing, are an obligatory reference, an imperative, a conditioned reflex that takes the place of reasoning. Anyone who dares take away from those "traditional demands" by suggesting a less restricted role for Ottawa is too often accused of having a paternalistic, arrogant and contemptuous attitude toward Quebecers."

"I have always deplored that way of thinking", said the Minister, stating that the federal government is also the government of Quebecers and that it can serve them well by exercising its legitimate responsibilities.

"There is provincialist bias in other provinces as well", said the Minister, "but there is also another error, a misplaced kind of Canadian nationalism which in this case is just as knee-jerk in favour of federal power. It equates Canada’s interests with increased responsibilities for the federal government and calls on it to be active in every field. Without an omnipresent federal government, it is thought, the Canadian identity would be threatened and the country would disintegrate."

Minister Dion believes, on the contrary, that the fact that we are a federation, and that Newfoundlanders and British Columbians can have different ways of being Canadian, is one of Canada’s strengths. "By letting each province come up with solutions adapted to its needs, we make Canada greater", said the Minister. "We all know how Saskatchewan inspired all of Canada through its efforts in establishing Medicare", he argued.

In order to show that to improve our federation we must build on that balance of principles, the minister gave key examples of the positive initiatives that the federal government and the provinces have taken together since last February in the area of manpower training, forestry, fisheries and the social union. The Minister expressed his confidence that the coming talks with the provinces will be very fruitful, particularly in the area of the social union.

"With such initiatives", concluded the Minister, "our country will continue to be one of the most admired in the world for the opportunities it gives its citizens."

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For information: Claude Péloquin
Press Secretary
(613) 943-1838
 


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Last Modified: 1996-08-28  Important Notices