Quebec's Place in the Canada of the Future

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Authors

Pelletier, BenoƮt

Date

2001

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working paper

Language

en

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Research Projects

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Abstract

In January 2001, the Special Committee of the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) on the Political and Constitutional Future of Quebec Society released a preliminary report entitled Quebec's Choice: Affirmation, Autonomy and Leadership. This substantial document has since been the subject of consultation with both rank-and-file Liberals and members of the general population of Quebec, with a view to forging a more extensive final report by the end of 2001. In collaboration with premiers and ministers from the other Canadian provinces, we are currently developing an action plan that will be one of the priorities of a future Liberal government of Quebec. I will discuss this plan in Section 5, outlining our recommended political approach. At this point, I would just like to mention that a future Liberal government would focus, first and foremost, on several initiatives which do not, in themselves, require the reopening of constitutional issues. These initiatives would involve Quebec either acting unilaterally within the compass of its current constitutional powers, or concluding administrative agreements with the federal government or the other provinces. Our approach is based on three main lines: strengthening Quebec within Canada; improving the Canadian federal system; and expanding the role of Quebec (and the other provinces) on the international scene. We favour intergovernmental cooperation over sterile confrontation. We believe our position to be realistic, moderate and balanced, and do not subscribe to the current polarization between adherents of a rigid federalism and advocates of sovereignty. We do not accept the status quo, but want to initiate change from within the Canadian federal system.

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Ā© IIGR, Queen's University

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Queen's University Institute of Intergovernmental Relations

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