MINISTER DION CALLS QUEBEC RECOGNITION
AN EXPRESSION OF CANADIAN VALUES

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN, September 10, 1997 – Stéphane Dion, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, told an audience at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law today that "we need to find a way to express the obvious link between constitutional recognition of Quebec and the great Canadian value of respect for diversity."

Mr. Dion stated that this recognition of Quebec can and should be done in a way consistent with respect for the equality of citizens and provinces. The Minister said that "equality of status must not be confused with uniform treatment" and that "it is this ability to combine equality and diversity that has so contributed to our country’s reputation in the world. And it is precisely in that perspective that we should recognize the place of our only majority Francophone province within Canada."

Mr. Dion observed that such recognition "would, for all practical purposes, merely be formalizing a principle already admitted by our courts, a principle that leads them to take account of the context of each province in order to make just decisions, including the specific context of Quebec."

"Of course, we cannot actually amend our Constitution to express the character of Canada and the unique place of Quebec so long as a secessionist government is in office in Quebec," the Minister noted. "But we can seek the way to express what we all believe. I hope that when the premiers of the nine provinces and the territorial leaders meet in Calgary next week, they will start down that road."

The Minister noted that in recent weeks he has shown in his letters to the Parti Québécois government in Quebec the difficulty of reconciling secession with democracy, and the painful consequences of a break-up of Canada. Mr. Dion called for an equally frank and open discussion on the recognition of Quebec. "We must defend our country at the level of ideas and values, by debating the substance of what is at stake calmly and clearly, with both reason and passion."

"It is obvious that Canada deserves to survive and can be improved even without constitutional change," the Minister said. "It is just as obvious that Quebec has everything to gain by staying in a united Canada, whether the Constitution is amended or not. I have reiterated that truth unceasingly in Quebec. But at the same time, I believe that a better affirmed recognition of Quebec in our Constitution would be a good thing in and of itself, a remarkable expression of Canadian values."

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For information:
André Lamarre
Press Secretary
(613) 943-1838.

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