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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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