Archives - Jean Chrétien

The Prime Minister of Canada made a
commitment during the referendum campaign

November 27, 1995
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister of Canada made a commitment during the referendum campaign to recognize that Quebec forms a distinct society within Canada.

The motion that will be tabled in the House of Commons is a tangible measure by the federal government in response to that commitment.

The Prime Minister of Canada has a duty to preserve national unity and thus govern in the interests of all Canadians. It is in that spirit that the decision was made to table a motion to recognize the distinct character of Quebec.

The motion will make it possible to set out clearly, very soon after the referendum, the support of Canadians' elected representatives on the issue of Quebec as a distinct society.

The motion calls for the House

to recognize that Quebec is a distinct society within Canada;
to recognize that Quebec's distinct society includes its French-speaking majority, unique culture and civil law tradition;
to undertake to be guided by this reality; and
to encourage all components of the legislative and executive branches of government to take note of this recognition and to be guided in their conduct accordingly.

The motion does not amend the Canadian Constitution. Nevertheless, it is a solemn and important commitment by federal elected representatives, who are the only ones to speak on behalf of all Canadians.

Once it is passed, this resolution will indicate to all citizens and all federal government authorities that it is the will of the House of Commons that the distinct character of Quebec society be recognized within the Canadian federation.

Now is not the time for constitutional discussions, because the Government of Quebec indicated unequivocally that it did not want to take part in such discussions. If those conditions were to change that is, were Quebec and the other regions to agree, the resolution on distinct society could be incorporated into the Constitution.

The distinct character of Quebec--the fact that it is different--is an obvious and inevitable reality. This resolution formally recognizes that fact.

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