Quebec wants to define 'nation' status
Quebec wants to define 'nation' status
JOCELYNE RICHER
Canadian Press
August 7, 2007 at 4:23 AM EDT
QUEBEC — The provincial government plans to force the federal government's hand on how it views the division of powers with the provinces and spending, Quebec Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Benoît Pelletier says.
Premier Jean Charest's government also wants to finally see Quebec's distinctiveness recognized in the Constitution in a charter of open federalism.
Quebec wants the federal government to address the division of jurisdictions between Ottawa and the provinces and intends to press Ottawa on the matter, Mr. Pelletier said in an interview yesterday.
He also wants the federal government to spell out precisely how it sees the federation operating and wants Ottawa to limit spending in provincial jurisdictions.
The provincial government is wading into constitutional waters again to short-circuit any resurgence in sovereigntist support for the Parti Québécois under new Leader Pauline Marois and curtail any flirtation with the autonomist platform of Mario Dumont's Action Démocratique du Québec.
"We will be very insistent," Mr. Pelletier said.
However, a source in the federal government said Quebec will have to get the support of the opposition parties before embarking on any new constitutional adventures.
Mr. Pelletier said he wants the federal government to be specific in its recognition of Quebec on its national characteristics as well as the limits of federal spending powers.
The federal government has already recognized the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada but has never really been clear about what that means.
Mr. Pelletier said that instead of being a vague document, he wants the charter to be a blueprint for future dealings with the provinces.
He said a charter of open federalism could be a significant contribution to modern Canada and signal the advent of a "much healthier federalism."
"If Ottawa is not ready to define the contents of this charter, I am," Mr. Pelletier said.
JOCELYNE RICHER
Canadian Press
August 7, 2007 at 4:23 AM EDT
QUEBEC — The provincial government plans to force the federal government's hand on how it views the division of powers with the provinces and spending, Quebec Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Benoît Pelletier says.
Premier Jean Charest's government also wants to finally see Quebec's distinctiveness recognized in the Constitution in a charter of open federalism.
Quebec wants the federal government to address the division of jurisdictions between Ottawa and the provinces and intends to press Ottawa on the matter, Mr. Pelletier said in an interview yesterday.
He also wants the federal government to spell out precisely how it sees the federation operating and wants Ottawa to limit spending in provincial jurisdictions.
The provincial government is wading into constitutional waters again to short-circuit any resurgence in sovereigntist support for the Parti Québécois under new Leader Pauline Marois and curtail any flirtation with the autonomist platform of Mario Dumont's Action Démocratique du Québec.
"We will be very insistent," Mr. Pelletier said.
However, a source in the federal government said Quebec will have to get the support of the opposition parties before embarking on any new constitutional adventures.
Mr. Pelletier said he wants the federal government to be specific in its recognition of Quebec on its national characteristics as well as the limits of federal spending powers.
The federal government has already recognized the Québécois as a nation within a united Canada but has never really been clear about what that means.
Mr. Pelletier said that instead of being a vague document, he wants the charter to be a blueprint for future dealings with the provinces.
He said a charter of open federalism could be a significant contribution to modern Canada and signal the advent of a "much healthier federalism."
"If Ottawa is not ready to define the contents of this charter, I am," Mr. Pelletier said.
posted by PDO at
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