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"Ontario's Role in Saving Canada"
Notes for an address to the
Rotary Clubs of London and Area
London, Ontario
November 14, 1996
Benjamin Franklin said that there are only two things which are inevitable in
life: death and taxes. You will be pleased to know that I am not going to talk
to you about either of them, but rather about a third inevitability Canada
faces: entering the 21st century. Or, at least, it should be an inevitability.
But will Canada enter the next century united?
Like other major Western countries, Canada faces a number of challenges: the
new economy, restructuring of health care, ensuring all regions are treated
fairly, Aboriginal issues. But Canada alone faces the threat of secession.
At present, the federal government is engaged in a renewal of the federation
and working to ensure a new sense of national reconciliation. Canadians from
coast to coast to coast -- including Quebecers -- want to see their governments
work together to address the challenges our country faces, so that the services
they receive are delivered with optimum effectiveness and efficiency. And they
want to see these changes taking place within our tradition of solidarity, of
building an inclusive society, rather than one in which certain members feel
rejected.
It is by bringing about national reconciliation and the renewal of the
federation that we will ensure our country enters the 21st century united and
strong -- or, in the words of my title, that we will save Canada. Today, as well
as speaking about this in general terms, I want to talk about the role of
Ontario specifically. Throughout Canada's history, the rich resources, large
population and strategic location of Ontario have helped the province build a
powerful economy. This economic strength has, in turn, meant that Ontario has
willingly made great contributions for the benefit of all Canadians. It has
meant that Ontario has been able to show leadership at many important junctures
in the history of our federation. Today, the people of Ontario have the
opportunity to play a special role in the process of renewal and national
reconciliation.
Ontarians are deeply attached to the Canadian ideal of tolerance and
openness. Although trading links and a shared language may logically pull
Ontario towards the United States, the values Ontarians share with other
Canadians help them resist this pull. In this respect, they are like the
German-speaking members of the Swiss population, who, in spite of their
linguistic links to Germany, are among the staunchest defenders of Switzerland,
because they cherish its value system.
Switzerland and Canada are both very tolerant countries. Peter Russell, an
eminent University of Toronto political scientist, has observed that "the
reality of Canadian citizenship is that at the psychic level it is
extraordinarily heterogeneous. Aboriginal Canadians, Quebecois Canadians,
Canadians who identify with minority language communities or with ethnic or
racial minorities as well as Canadians who yearn to identify with a unified
Canadian nation have experienced their connection with Canada historically in
very different ways." Similarly, in Switzerland, citizens of the different
cantons and language groups can be Swiss in their own way. But, in Switzerland,
there are no secessionist movements. Why? One reason is that none of the three
linguistic groups is concentrated overwhelmingly in a single canton.
The Swiss example illuminates another important aspect of the functioning of
our federation. When dealing with national issues, while Swiss cantons may ally
themselves on language when it comes to cultural issues, they will form very
different alliances for other matters. For example, on economic questions,
alliances often form on the basis of the rural-urban split. In Canada, alliances
also tend to be issue-based. Quebec will often ally itself with Ontario on
industrial matters, with the Atlantic and Prairie provinces when it comes to
social standards, and with the West on free trade. However, when it comes to
language issues, Quebecers are very conscious that they are alone in an
Anglophone sea.
This points to an important part of our national reconciliation process. We
can work to strengthen and extend the ties which already bind Canada together.
But we must also address the insecurities which exist. And prominent among these
is the sense of isolation that Quebec has on matters of language and culture.
Unlike the Swiss cantons, Quebec does not have a natural ally among Canada's
provinces when it comes to language and cultural issues.
It seems appropriate to be discussing Canada's renewal and reconciliation
process in front of an audience of Rotarians, who are defined in your literature
as persons who look beyond themselves to the community, the nation and the
world, who let fairness govern relationships, and who strive to build good will
and to benefit all. These are exactly the qualities needed in the process of
national reconciliation, and I would like to thank the Rotary Clubs of the
London area for giving me the opportunity to speak today.
First, I want to discuss what Ontario and Quebec have in common to illustrate
why secession would have drastic consequences for the strong links between our
two provinces. Second, I will outline how the renewal of the federation and
recognition of Quebec as a distinct society are important to all Canadians, and
the people of Ontario in particular. Third, I will talk, as my title suggests,
about Ontario's role in saving our country.
Ontario and Quebec: friends and partners in Canada
The people of Ontario and Quebec have a long and significant history as
partners and friends. As the earliest major industrial regions of Canada, we
contributed to the development of the regions to the west and north which have
now grown to become our partners. Today, our two provinces are bound together by
a complex web of ties: personal, economic and professional. Together, our
provinces account for over half of Canada's population and, as producers of more
than three quarters of Canada's manufactured goods, we remain the industrial and
manufacturing heartland of the country.
Our major cities -- Toronto and Montreal -- are vibrant examples of
multicultural metropolitan life. They share the same spirit of respect and
tolerance among the diverse cultures which are their components and their life
blood. They are dynamic models of cultural co-existence that have been able to
avoid the racism which affects so many other great cities in the Western world.
These achievements have not gone unnoticed. A survey released by the Swiss
Corporate Resources Group in 1995 put them among the best metropolitan areas in
the world in which to live -- Toronto finished fourth and Montreal seventh.
Incidentally, another Canadian city, Vancouver, was ranked second.
One reason why these cities have been able to welcome wave upon wave of new
immigrants with warmth and openness is, I believe, the tolerance and acceptance
of diversity that developed because Francophones and Anglophones learned to work
together in the decades and centuries before these newer Canadians arrived.
Many individuals who were born in Quebec play an important role in the life
of your province, including Richard Monette, the artistic director of the
Stratford Festival, and Yves Landry, the Chairman, President and CEO of Chrysler
Canada. Meanwhile, my province has benefitted from the talents of people born in
Ontario, including Power Corp's Paul Desmarais and Paul E. Gagné, President and
CEO of Avenor Inc. These individuals personify the tremendous synergy that
exists between our two provinces.
In the history of both my province and yours, minority official-language
communities have played an important role. Today, the Anglophone community
continues to play an important role in the life of my province. And Ontario is
home to the largest Francophone minority in Canada.
A misguided individual once compared Francophones outside Quebec to warm
cadavers. Anyone who knows the first thing about the Franco-Ontarian community
knows they are far from Dead Men Walking! In 1993, the Franco-Ontarian writer
François Paré won the Governor General's Award for "Les Littératures de
l'exiguité", while in 1988 the playwright Jean-Marc Dalpé won a Governor
General's Award for his play Le Chien. Ottawa's Franco-Ontarian Festival,
LeFranco, has grown to be the premier Francophone cultural event of its kind in
North America. Francophones own over 7,500 Ontario businesses, companies and
corporations. And the Franco-Ontarian community has also given me my newest
Cabinet colleague, Don Boudria, the Minister responsible for International
Cooperation and the Francophonie.
That is only the briefest snapshot of Ontario's Francophone community, but I
am sure that you would agree with me that it makes an important contribution to
the life of both Ontario and the country. This morning, I had the pleasure of
visiting the Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School, a French immersion school
where young Anglophones are receiving a tremendous opportunity to achieve
fluency in Canada's other official language. Learning the other official
language can be extremely enriching personally, as I know from experience. But
it also opens up a whole range of employment and commercial opportunities here
and abroad.
More broadly, the whole country benefits from its bilingual status. For
example, the communications manager for Calgary's Expo 2005 bid committee said a
few weeks ago that Canada's bilingualism is giving their candidacy a
"strategic advantage" over their unilingual Japanese and Australian
competitors, since French is not only a major international language, but also
the official one of the Bureau of International Exposition.
To return to the ties that bind Ontario and Quebec, I would note that, in
economic terms, they are among the most closely linked of all Canada's
provinces. According to the most recent figures available from Statistics
Canada, which are for 1990, over 60% of Quebec's exports were to Ontario, and
over 70% of its imports came from your province. Meanwhile, almost 40% of
Ontario's exports were to Quebec, and over 50% of its imports came from my
province. Quebec is Ontario's largest trading partner, and vice versa.
We also share similar values. In fact, according to a new book by Angus Reid,
Shakedown: how the new economy is changing our lives, there are four enduring
beliefs that are shared by the vast majority of Canadians in all regions of this
country. First, Canadians share the conviction that, together, we have built
something special -- a country with a "unique niche in the global
community". For me, Canada shows the world that the cohabitation of
cultures within the same state makes us all better citizens and better human
beings, since we have a fantastic opportunity to develop tolerance and to
encounter different approaches to the challenges we share.
Second, according to Mr. Reid, almost all Canadians believe that Anglophone
and Francophone Canadians can live together harmoniously in Canada. We believe,
I think, that with good will and perseverance national reconciliation is
possible. We have not lost our conviction that differences can be surmounted and
the challenges of today met.
Third, Canadians believe in civility. They think disagreements should be
resolved through reason and diplomacy, and have a palpable distaste for violence
and arbitrary solutions. As Mr. Reid says, "You can call civility boring if
you want. But there are people all over this planet who live in constant fear of
physical violence, and they don't call it that." They call the Canadian way
a shining example of hope for the world.
Fourth, and finally, Canadians believe that we should build our society and
communities on the principle of fairness. Our belief in creating a level playing
field has led us to build a social safety net to protect the vulnerable members
of society, and those in need of temporary support, as well as an unparalleled
system of transfer payments. Furthermore, our Constitution and the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms ensure a wide range of individual and group rights are
protected.
The values that we share as Canadians provide a solid foundation for the
renewal of our federation and for national reconciliation. Traditionally,
Ontario's leaders have been champions for the federation and powerful advocates
for national unity. Economically and politically, and through the ties built up
by numerous individual citizens, Ontario has been a staunch friend and partner
to Quebec. These are roles that Ontario can continue to play -- to the advantage
of all Canadians.
Renewing the federation, recognizing Quebec's distinctiveness
The federalism we know today in Canada is very different from that of fifty
years ago, and fifty years hence our federation will have undergone a great deal
more evolution. That is one of the strengths of federal systems: they are
flexible enough to adapt and evolve when faced with new challenges and new
contexts.
The flexibility of our federation allows it to respond well to the evolving
aspirations of its different citizens, provinces, regions and cultures. Today,
cooperation among different levels of government to provide efficient, effective
and regionally sensitive services is a priority for Canadians. Therefore, the
federal government is working with the provincial and territorial governments to
find better ways of doing things, and to build more effective, efficient
partnerships.
We have called this process renewing the federation. The purpose of federal
renewal is not to appease any of our provinces or the demands of separatists.
The purpose of federal renewal is to improve the services citizens receive by
clarifying which level of government is best able to provide them, and to build
better partnerships with the provinces. We're looking to improve the lot of
Canadians across the country, so that citizens have better health care, workers
can readily get the training they need, and all Canadians can share in the
prosperity of our country.
Let's look at one aspect of renewal which is seeing real progress on
establishing new partnerships with the provinces -- labour-market training. The
federal government will continue to deliver Employment Insurance benefits and
maintain the national labour-market information and exchange system and service
delivery network. But we have offered the provinces the opportunity to manage
approximately $2 billion worth of active employment assistance measures. If
you'll excuse the pun, I think that is a very appropriate division of labour!
Many of you here today are businesspeople, so I don't need to tell you how
important it is that the labour market be responsive to regional needs and the
imperatives of the new global economy. Under the new agreements, provinces will
be able to ensure their citizens have access to the appropriate skills and tools
for the jobs available in their region. Meanwhile, the federal government will
work to ensure the labour mobility rights of Canadians are fully respected.
Mobility is an important facet of our socio-economic union, and also key for
ensuring an optimum economic performance for Canada as a whole.
Another aspect of renewing the federation is our commitment in this
February's Speech from the Throne not to use the federal spending power to
create new shared-cost programs in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction
without the consent of a majority of provinces. Additionally, any provinces
choosing not to participate in such new programs will be financially
compensated.
This commitment responds to a long-held grievance of the provinces, which
have argued in the past that unilateral use of the federal spending power
undermined their ability to set and follow their own priorities. We want to
build an atmosphere of trust and cooperation with the provinces for the good of
all Canadians. The limit we have imposed on the federal spending power is
unmatched in other federations. It demonstrates the strength of our commitment
to renewal.
Another area where we are committed to improvement and renewal is in the
social union. We aim to strengthen this fundamental aspect of Canada by
modernizing the social safety net and by clarifying the roles and
responsibilities of the two orders of government. An important step was taken
last June, when the First Ministers' set up a new federal-provincial-territorial
council on social policy renewal.
Priority issues which it will address include benefits for children and
persons with disabilities, two vulnerable groups with unacceptably high poverty
levels. Persons with disabilities need the tools to become more independent and
to participate as fully as possible in society and the labour market. Meanwhile,
one in five Canadian children is raised in a low-income family. These children
are part of our future. We must redesign our income support systems to help them
and their families.
The federal and provincial governments have also agreed to an action plan for
renewed partnership in the field of environmental management. Its goal is a
comprehensive, multilateral umbrella environmental accord between the two levels
of government, together with multilateral agreements on standards, inspection
services and environmental assessment. This constructive, consensual approach to
forging a new partnership could provide for a significant rationalization of
activity across levels of government, strengthened protection of the
environment, and a more transparent, easier to use, and more cost-effective
system of environmental management. That's good news for Canadians, our
environment and our businesses.
As my examples have demonstrated, our plan for renewing the federation is
broad-based. I have talked about initiatives in labour-market training, the
federal spending power, social policy and the environment -- issues important to
everyone here today. But I could just as easily have talked about our new
approaches in mining and forestry, recreation, social housing, tourism,
freshwater fisheries, and other diverse sectors.
Underpinning this plan for renewal is the work of Finance Minister Paul
Martin and others in the federal government to reduce the deficit and put our
fiscal house in order. To get our finances in order, we had to make some tough
decisions. But they were necessary. Quite simply, when our government was
elected it inherited an annual deficit which had climbed to $42 billion. We have
taken action because we did not want Canada to pay a high price in terms of high
interest rates, lost investment, lost income and lost jobs.
Now our approach is beginning to bear fruit. In 1997-98 our deficit will be
only 2% of GDP. Canadian short-term interest rates are about 1.5 percentage
points lower than those in the United States. Our short-term rates have come
down by more than 4.5 percentage points since early last year. The lower
interest rates achieved between January 1995 and June 1996 have provided
provincial governments with cumulative savings of about $1.3 billion. For its
part, Ontario has benefitted from a saving of approximately $315 million.
Furthermore, Canada's competitiveness vis-à-vis the United States is the best
in the 46 years that data have been available. Our merchandise trade balance --
exports over imports -- is running its highest surplus ever.
Nevertheless, adjusting to the realities of the new economy has been
difficult for many Canadians. Although Canadian companies have created over
three quarters of a million new jobs since the Liberal government took office in
Ottawa, and the level of unemployment has decreased, it is still too high. But
more and more, there is good news for Canadians. The IMF's recently released
World Economic Outlook suggests that Canada will outgrow all the G-7 economies
in 1997. And a C. D. Howe Institute study released last week predicts that there
will be an economic boom, beginning around the start of the next millennium and
lasting for decades. Our government is working to ensure that Canada is well
placed to take advantage of any such boom.
Putting our fiscal house in order is an important underpinning for the
renewal of the federation. I would argue, as well, that recognizing the
distinctiveness of Quebec is an important, and complementary, companion to that
renewal. If you will allow me a little latitude here, I would like to apply the
Rotary Club's Four Way Test to the recognition of Quebec as a distinct society.
First, then, is it the truth? Is Quebec truly distinct? I would suggest that
it is. Quebec is the province where the French language and culture are centred
-- not only in Canada, but in the entire North American continent. Quebec is the
only major jurisdiction that has a Francophone majority, and Quebecers are
surrounded on this continent by 300 million Anglophones. The province has also
maintained its civil code, derived from the legal system of France.
econd, is it fair to all concerned? This question has been raised often in
connection with recognizing Quebec as a distinct society. Some people have
expressed concern that such recognition would imply that Quebecers have more
rights than other Canadians, or that Quebec would be somehow elevated above the
other provinces. However, in reality, recognizing Quebec's linguistic and
cultural differences involves the same principle used in other public policy
areas. It responds to unique needs and circumstances, without undermining the
equality of provinces or that of citizens.
When we negotiate a special arrangement with British Columbia for the salmon
fishery, for example, it does not mean British Columbia has all the powers of
the other provinces -- plus one! It simply addresses the fact that only British
Columbia has a Pacific salmon fishery.
To be sure, recognizing Quebec as a distinct society would require the courts
to interpret constitutional and Charter cases in light of Quebec's unique
situation in an Anglophone North America. But according to former Supreme Court
Chief Justice Brian Dickson, the courts are already doing this at a practical
level. And to date, no one has suggested that, in doing so, the actions of our
internationally respected Supreme Court are unfair. Recognition, then, would not
entail a radical departure from the situation we have now. It would merely turn
a matter of convention and practice into a more solid guarantee. And it would
not be unfair to other Canadians, or undermine their legal rights or those of
the provinces in which they live.
The third Rotary test is will it build good will and friendship? Recognition
of Quebec as a distinct society certainly would. It would reassure those
Quebecers who were drawn to the YES option in October last year because they
feared for the future of the French language and of Quebec's culture. It would
show them that they have the warm support of other Canadians for the
preservation of their language and heritage. It would show all Quebecers that
our society is respected for what it is: one which has a Francophone majority,
and in which people can work, live and flourish in French.
Fourth, and finally, will it be beneficial to all concerned? A resounding
yes! We can all benefit from the stability recognition of Quebec's distinctness
would bring, and from the enormous step it would be on the road to national
reconciliation. Such a clear affirmation of the role and qualities of Quebec
would show Quebecers that they do not need to choose between their two
identities, because being a Canadian and a Quebecer would be so evidently
mutually affirming. Quebecers identifying themselves as both Quebecers and
Canadians would come as naturally as identifying yourselves as Londoners and
Rotarians does! Canadians could be proud of the commitment they had shown to
preserving a part of all our heritage, the Francophone culture of North America,
of which Quebec is the heart.
Recognizing Quebec as a distinct society would not undermine the cultural
diversity of the province. In fact, I have been invited by Quebec's Jewish,
Greek and Italian communities to attend a day-long series of events hosted by
their Ontario counterparts to show how much Quebec's cultural communities
welcome national reconciliation and the recognition of Quebec in the
Constitution. These events will take place on November 26 in Toronto. I am very
pleased that I will have the opportunity, in an evening address, to outline my
belief that Canada's tradition of recognizing and celebrating diversity will be
furthered by recognition of Quebec.
I believe that more and more Canadians are starting to accept the idea of
Quebec's uniqueness receiving some form of constitutional recognition. Three
premiers -- Roy Romanow of Saskatchewan, Frank McKenna of New Brunswick and
Brian Tobin of Newfoundland -- have been bold enough to invite their fellow
citizens to show support for Quebec's distinctness. Premier Ralph Klein, while
not endorsing the words "distinct society", has said that he has no
problem with the idea of acknowledging the need of Quebec for a recognition of
its uniqueness, which he defined in terms of culture, tradition, language and
law. I welcome the leadership and good will displayed by all these provincial
politicians.
Moreover, a survey this March showed that 68% of Canadians polled outside
Quebec believe that the Constitution "should recognize that Quebec, while
equal to the other provinces, is different, particularly due to its French
language and culture."
I find this heartening. I was also pleased last month to see the members of
my party -- Liberals from every region of Canada -- vote to recognize what is
distinct about Quebec as part of our work to renew and modernize the country.
However, as I have said many times before, our government will not move on
the constitutional recognition of Quebec as a distinct society until we are sure
it would have the support of ordinary Canadians. I hope that some of you who
came here today wary of distinct society have had your worries alleviated.
Because the people of Ontario carry great weight in this country, and your
support is important.
Ontario's role in saving the country
Which brings me to a key issue: what can the people of Ontario do to save our
great country? As I mentioned earlier, Ontario has been able to play a key role
many times in the history of our federation. As you will have gathered from the
title of my presentation and from what I have said up till now, I believe that
this is a moment in Canada's history where Ontario is again called to play an
important role on the national stage.
From the time of Sir John A. Macdonald's alliance with Georges-Étienne
Cartier, politicians and ordinary citizens from the provinces of Ontario and
Quebec have come together to work for the good of the country. Cartier put this
cooperation in context, saying that our federation had to be founded on the
"kindred interest and sympathies" of its different communities. As I
outlined in the first section of my speech, I believe our two provinces share
many such kindred interests and sympathies.
Individual Ontarians have made important contributions to the evolution of
our federation. I think of names like Mowat, Frost, Davis, Peterson, Rae and
London's own John P. Robarts, who co-chaired with Quebec's Jean-Luc Pépin a
major task force and report founded upon the principle of the linguistic duality
of Canada. At this time when national reconciliation is vital, Ontario and its
citizens are uniquely placed to reach out to your neighbours, trading partners
and friends in Quebec.
To fully take part in the process of national reconciliation, however, means
that we must put aside our partisan differences to work for the good of our
country. The partisan differences between Liberals and Conservatives, Reformers
and New Democrats, should pale into insignificance when faced with the goal of
saving Canada. Politicians must be able to move beyond partisanship to act in
the interest of all Canadians -- what interest could be more important?
Ontarians have impressed other Canadians -- and perhaps themselves -- by
voting in quick succession for three very different governments: the Peterson
Liberals, the Rae New Democrats and the Harris Conservatives. In the past,
irrespective of the political affiliations of the governments in power in
Queen's Park and on Parliament Hill, powerful alliances have been forged on
issues of national unity. Our country has not and can not be limited to the
platforms of one political party. We must preserve a Canada where citizens can
choose between the Peterson, Rae and Harris visions -- for better or for worse.
Liberals have worked shoulder to shoulder with Conservatives and New Democrats
for the benefit of Canada. This is a wonderful tradition, and I am confident
that it will continue, and that we will be able to avoid allowing our partisan
agendas to enter into the issue of national unity.
I am a Liberal. But national unity is not a Liberal issue. It is a national
issue, and it requires us to put aside our partisan feelings and our parochial
views and think of the good of our national community. As a Liberal, I know that
there are differences of opinion between my party and the Conservatives at
Queen's Park in a number of areas. But I also know that Premier Harris and my
Ontario counterpart, Dianne Cunningham, in whose home town we are today, are
both anxious to work towards national reconciliation. We have a positive working
relationship, and together we can work to find solutions to the challenges we
face.
To save our country, too, we must refrain from thinking in terms of
bargaining chips. We must do things because they are right, and be prepared to
think of our fellow citizens' interests as well as our own. Too many of our
quarrels arise because of an assumption that our federation functions like a
zero-sum game: if Ottawa wins, the provinces lose; or if Quebec wins, the West
loses; or if the Atlantic provinces win, Ontario loses. This is completely
untrue. The ultimate winners in our federation are the people of Canada.
When faced with recognizing Quebec as a distinct society, we should not say:
"I want to take this opportunity to bargain for something else in
exchange." We should say, instead: "If you think this is good for the
country, tell me more about it, and convince me that you're right!"
We must take this same approach to the many other challenges facing our
country. Ontario is concerned that it receive its fair share in federal
programs; British Columbia is concerned about the salmon fishery; aboriginal
Canadians have issues that they want to see addressed. I share Prime Minister
Chrétien's belief that we must address these issues individually, on a
step-by-step basis. This way we can achieve real progress on a number of fronts.
If we try to tie issues together -- such as Ontario's fair share and Quebec's
recognition as a distinct society -- we risk deadlocks and unnecessary
resentment. If Ontario has a problem, or Quebec wants recognition as a distinct
society, let's take steps to address them because it's the right thing to do.
Canada is a young, dynamic, prosperous country. We should not let it
degenerate into a fractious sibling society. This country was built by
individuals with the foresight to put aside their suspicions, envy, parochialism
and mistrust of those different from themselves. It was built by people who
focused determinedly on our "kindred interests and sympathies", and
acted with good will and generosity. They built a country that is the envy of
the world. We should build upon their legacy, not destroy it.
I ask my neighbours here in Ontario, the many friends and wonderful people I
have met here, to take on this challenge -- to act with boldness and foresight
to promote reconciliation in our country. Because you live in the heart of
Canada. Let's keep that heart beating!
Conclusion
Canada faces a very real challenge with the issue of Quebec secession. It is
important that we work together to send positive signals about renewal and
reconciliation to Quebecers -- and to all Canadians.
One of London's most famous sons, John Robarts, said that for a young and
evolving country like Canada, "coping with change is crucial. Will change
move us, or will we meet it and influence it and have it move with us?" I
am confident that our government can work with the people and government of
Ontario to move forward toward a renewed federation and national reconciliation.
We can move forward together to guarantee the future of the Canadian ideal.
That ideal is based on civility, fairness, respect for our diversity and a
willingness to work hard, and sometimes to make sacrifices, to ensure that
Canada remains a haven of tolerance in a turbulent world. This ideal is bigger
than any province or region. Generations of Ontarians have contributed
enormously to building it. And, I firmly believe, the people of Ontario today
can -- and will -- rise to the challenge of maintaining it.
That is what is required of all Canadians. To save Canada so that our
children and grandchildren can, in the 21st century, still proudly call this
great country their home.
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