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"THE CHALENGES OF THE CANADIAN
ECONOMIC UNION"
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, November 20, 1996 – Speaking to members of the
Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association, Canada’s Intergovernmental Affairs
Minister, Stéphane Dion, drew parallels between the challenges the chemical
industry has had to overcome to remain effective and competitive and the path
travelled by the Canadian federation, which has always demonstrated its ability
to adapt flexibly to major national and international issues.
The Minister noted that Canada is, on the whole, an economic success, despite
the problems of unemployment and child poverty. He noted that major economic
bodies, such as the Bank of Canada, the OECD and the World Trade Organization,
"have given Canada very high marks for its reforms, which have enabled it
to improve the performance of the Canadian economy, especially in terms of a
lower inflation rate and deficit reduction, which has translated into successive
drops in interest rates and an appreciable improvement in Canada’s
international competitiveness."
In his speech, Mr. Dion stressed the need to strengthen the Canadian economic
union and listed major challenges awaiting us as we enter the 21st century. He
noted that the Canadian federation is a strength in itself, and that
institutions must be improved to meet those challenges more effectively.
Referring to the federal government’s plan for reform and the positive
economic performance resulting from putting public finances in order, the
Minister said he was delighted that all the conditions are in place for us to
look to the future of Canada and of Canadians with confidence. He added,
however: "Now that we are getting our economy back on track and preparing
Canadians to enter the 21st century with the tools they need to succeed, it is
irresponsible for the Government of Quebec to perpetuate uncertainty regarding
the possibility of secession."
"Uncertainty is hampering the smooth operation of business and the
economy," Mr. Dion noted. "The business community has said so
repeatedly, particularly during the recent Quebec socio-economic summit. Quebec’s
separatist government acknowledged that itself, in its own fashion, by revealing
the existence of a "Plan O", under which it was prepared to use $19
billion of Quebecers’ savings to try to buffer the effects of a vote in favour
of secession." The Minister said it was disturbing that "Quebecers’
savings were jeopardized for a political project. It was never revealed to
Quebecers during the referendum campaign," he noted, "that their
savings would be put at risk in that way."
Mr. Dion emphasized that one way to help reduce that uncertainty would be to
"convince Quebecers that their difference is fully accepted and recognized
within Canada", and he called on the business community to support the
Government’s efforts in that regard. He concluded by saying: "there are
two ways to interpret the political crisis we are currently experiencing. The
first is that the existence of a strong separatist movement in Quebec would
indicate that the Canadian federation doesn’t work. The second, which I
subscribe to, is that the Canadian federation works well, although it can be
improved, and that it would work even better if Quebecers and other Canadians
decided resolutely to look to the challenges of the next century together,
within a great, united federation."
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For information: Gilles Pineau
Press Secretary
(613) 943-1838
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