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RECONCIALIATION, RECOGNITION AND RENEWAL
TORONTO, ONTARIO, January 27, 1997 – In a speech to the members of the
Cercle canadien de Toronto, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and
President of the Privy Council, Stéphane Dion, dealt with three major themes of
Canadian unity: reconciliation, recognition and renewal.
That idea of the three "Rs" was proposed by the Coalition of the
Hellenic Canadian Congress, the National Congress of Italian Canadians, and the
Canadian Jewish Congress, when it released its policy statement on national
unity on November 26 last year. Mr. Dion took up those themes at the request of
the members of the Cercle canadien de Toronto, saying he was delighted that this
idea has been making headway.
"If we want to save Canada," the Minister stated, " if we want to
leave to future generations this country that is a model of success for the
entire world, we must build bridges of reconciliation among provinces and
citizens throughout the country, we must make the effort to understand and know
ourselves better. Above all, this reconciliation must take place in people's
hearts and minds, not just on a piece of paper signed by politicians."
On the theme of reconciliation, Mr. Dion stated that, "Recognizing Quebec's
difference would be a way for all Canadians to assert their solidarity with
Quebecers' efforts to preserve a vibrant, dynamic Francophone society within an
English-speaking North America." He asserted that "The fears some
Canadians have about recognizing Quebec's distinctiveness are unfounded."
The Minister expressed confidence that "we will succeed in convincing
Canadians in the majority Anglophone provinces of the need to recognize the
unique spirit and culture of Quebec society, and to enable it to flourish
securely within the Canadian federation."
Concluding on the theme of renewing the federation, Mr. Dion noted that the
quality of services to the public is a core concern of the federal government,
and that the initiatives being implemented to renew the federation are based on
the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, which are the strength and the
success of the Canadian federation. The Minister illustrated that point with a
number of examples, including active employment measures and job training, the
national child benefit program and harmonization of income support measures and
programs for persons with disabilities, environmental harmonization, and support
for exports.
"The advantage of being a federation," Mr. Dion concluded, "is
that, on the one hand, each province has the ability, together with its business
and labour communities, to design strategies linked to its resources and its
culture, while on the other hand, we benefit from the strength of the Canadian
whole." The Minister pointed ou that Canada is chairing the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation Council (APEC) this year, and that this region of the world
is a promising future market for all Canadians.
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For information: André Lamarre
Press Secretary
(613) 943-1838
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