January 10, 2006
Kamloops Daily News

The road to constitutional reform in Canada is littered with
the broken hopes and ambitions of politicians. It's no
wonder that the contenders for prime minister are reluctant
to walk that path. However, that reluctance doesn't stop
them from trying to fix the Quebec problem.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper appeals to the soft
nationalists of Quebec when he says "Millions of Quebecers
are looking for an alternative to corruption and separation
that only a new Conservative government can provide."

Prime Minister Martin has offered a new health care deal for
Quebec that recognizes its unique qualities. He calls it
"asymmetrical symmetry" which acknowledges what Canadians
now accept as the new reality of Quebec.

It's a sign of how the political landscape of Canada has
changed. Only 15 years ago, Canadians rejected the label of
"distinct society" for Quebec. Now that label is obviously
true.

The incentive to do something is obvious: As long as
Quebecers send separatist MPs to Ottawa, Canada is doomed to
minority governments.

Each leader is trying to outdo the other. Harper recently
said he would go further than the Liberals and allow Quebec
to play a role in international institutions, such as
UNESCO, where its cultural responsibilities are at stake.

Harper's concessions are reminiscent of former Prime
Minister Mulroney's attempts to bring Quebec back into
Canada's constitution through the Meech Lake Accord.
Although those concessions for Quebec seemed radical at the
time, they now seem like a modest proposal that would have
kept Canada whole.

If Mulroney had succeeded we would have a stable majority
federal government now.

Pierre Trudeau may have been one of the most popular Prime
Ministers in Canada but his repatriation of the Canadian
Constitution failed in one important aspect - - it left
Quebec out.

There was much to admire about Trudeau's accomplishments.
He achieved a strong federal government and a constitutional
guarantee of freedom of speech, religion, and association
and that Canadians would not be discriminated on the basis
of colour, sex or creed.

The Charter of Rights was entrenched and our new
constitution was patriated in 1982. All the provinces got
what they wanted except Quebec. Quebec lost its veto over
constitutional change, a power it claimed since
Confederation. Many Quebecois believed that the
English-speaking premiers had betrayed Quebec Premier
Lévesque.

When Brian Mulroney and his Conservatives won the federal
election in 1984, he wanted to "bring Quebec into the
Constitution." It was an admirable goal. Mulroney hoped
this would finally solve the constitutional problem that had
plagued Canada and Quebecois.

At Meech Lake, Prime Minister Mulroney and the ten premiers
reached a constitutional agreement that was acceptable to
Premier Robert Bourassa of Quebec. Quebec would become a
"distinct society" and its veto would be restored over most
constitutional amendments. All the provinces would gain
greater control over immigration, the power to nominate
Supreme Court judges, and the right to remain outside new
cost-sharing agreements without financial penalty.

Many saw the price of bringing Quebec in as too high. The
federal government was weakened. Native groups argued that
their collective rights were being ignored. Pierre Trudeau,
still a potent political force, opposed it.

Westerners thought Quebec was being given too much. Those
who wanted Senate reform believed that the Meech Accord
would make reforms impossible. Women's groups, trade unions
and anti-poverty groups were opposed.

As the deadline of June 23, 1990, approached the Accord
faced considerable opposition. Few were surprised and many
rejoiced when it failed.

The Conservative government of Brian Mulroney began to fall
apart. A revolt, led by Mulroney's Quebec lieutenant Lucien
Bouchard, left the government weakened. A later attempt at
constitutional reform, the Charlottetown Accord, was also
defeated in a national referendum in the fall of 1992.

The fall of the Conservatives left the former great party in
ruins and Mulroney a bitter and disillusioned man. It was
also the last time that Quebecois had any faith in a federal
government.

Harper has said that he would give Quebec more autonomy
without opening the constitution. He proposes "incremental"
constitutional reform, starting with an elected senate.

However, it's unlikely that anything less than
constitutional reform will satisfy Quebec. Shrinkage of
federal powers will be regrettable. Many social programs
depend on a strong Canadian government.

Sadly, it seems inevitable - - Canadian government will have
to be weakened in order for Canada to be stronger.

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