Government of Canada, Privy Council Office
Francais Contact Us Help Search Canada Site
What's New Site Map Reference Works Other PCO Sites Home
Subscribe
Archives - Press Room

Archives - Press Room

MINISTER DION STRESSES THE NEED FOR THE WEST AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO WORK BETTER TOGETHER

 

REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, March 6, 2001 – Speaking to the members of the Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy at the University of Regina, the Honourable Stéphane Dion, President of the Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, stressed the importance of an ongoing dialogue between Western Canadians and the Government of Canada, "so as to start off on the right foot at the beginning of this new mandate."

The Minister said that he understands the concerns felt by many Western Canadians in light of the fact that, once again, the party in power in Ottawa is not the one that garnered the most votes in their region. "A federal government made up of few or no Quebeckers-and which moreover, in our case, would barely be able to speak our language-would certainly have its work cut out for it in Quebec," he acknowledged.

The Minister pointed out that this is why Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has asked eight of the fourteen Liberal members of Parliament elected in the Western provinces to sit at the Cabinet table and has assigned the chairmanship of the two most important Government committees to Ralph Goodale and Anne McLellan.

"Red Book III, which includes our commitments to Canadians, is something we are going to achieve together with you, the people of Saskatchewan," the Minister stated. "In all areas, we are going to work harder than ever to ensure that our actions are adapted to your everyday realities, and are undertaken together with you."

Mr Dion then noted that some Western Canadians believe that a major reform is needed, a major shift, which they believe would allay the feeling of Western alienation more effectively than the approach taken by the Government. But he also pointed out that other Western Canadians are expressing doubts as to whether such a major reform would make the difference. The Minister explained that he shares those doubts:

"When you examine the plans for fundamental reforms that have been put forward, they seem unlikely to forge consensus in the West. Many Westerners do not consider them to be desirable. This is true for the three main shifts that have been proposed: a conservative shift, a decentralist shift, and a populist shift," said Mr Dion.

As evidence that those doubts are well founded, the Minister referred to polling data suggesting that the ideological differences between Western Canadians and Canadians in other regions are not that great: "There is no indication of the alleged solid Western conservatism. My sense is that there would not be any more of a consensus on such a move in the West than there would be elsewhere," the Minister declared.

Similarly, Mr Dion expressed the opinion that a shift toward a radical decentralization would not forge consensus in the West: "My contacts with ordinary Canadians, like all the public opinion polls I have seen, show that the majority of Canadians in every region of the country do not want massive transfers of powers toward the provincial governments. What they want above all is for their governments to work better together, and that is the direction in which the Chrétien government has concentrated its efforts."

With respect to a populist shift, which would take the form of frequent use of referenda, relaxation of party discipline and adoption of a proportional voting system, the Minister said he is puzzled that the four provincial governments do not put these ideas into practice to a greater extent if it is true, as has been suggested, that Western Canadians are particularly attached to them.

In conclusion, the Minister quoted the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada West Foundation, Professor Roger Gibbins, who has stated that "the heart of the problem is not policy or money, but the lack of respect."

The Minister stated that this feeling of not being sufficiently respected is of great concern to him. "That is a serious problem that we need to talk about, because if there is one thing that is worthy of respect, it is certainly this extraordinary human adventure that is Western Canada. The last thing I would want is for you to doubt the tremendous pride that a Quebecker feels in having Saskatchewan and Western Canada as part of his country," Mr Dion concluded.

 

- 30 -

For information: 
André Lamarre
Special Assistant
Tel: (613) 943-1838
Fax: (613) 943-5553

 

  Printer-Friendly Version
Last Modified: 2001-03-06  Important Notices