Harper promises Quebec greater role in international affairs
Last Updated: Monday, December 19, 2005 | 5:58 PM ET
CBC News
"A Conservative government will offer a complete departure from the approaches of both the federal Liberals and the Bloc Québécois," Harper said Monday on an election campaign visit to Quebec City.
Harper said all Canadians should be treated similarly, but that Quebec is looking for powers and arrangements that other provinces may not want.
"I think in general we're seeking similar powers for provinces but when you get into some areas, particularly areas that touch upon culture and language, obviously it's not a surprise that the government of Quebec would seek arrangements that may be of little interest to other provinces."
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper in the cockpit of his campaign plane prior to departure from Ottawa to Quebec City on Monday, Dec. 19. (CP Photo/Tom Hanson)
Harper would allow Quebec to increase its presence on the world stage. He said the province would be able to represent itself at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
He pointed out that Quebec already participates in the Francophonie Summit of French-speaking nations.
"I don't think that's proven to be a difficulty. I think it's had quite the opposite effect. I think it's proven that Quebec can express that side of its nature, that distinctiveness without having any necessary recourse to sovereignty."
Ottawa doesn't allow the province to join other international events.
But Liberal Leader Paul Martin rejected Harper's proposition.
"Canada will speak with only one voice on the international stage. Canada cannot speak with several voices," Martin said in Cambridge, Ont.
However, before the last election, Martin made a similar promise to allow the provinces to speak internationally in areas under their jurisdiction. But on Monday he said he was talking about more consultation with the provinces, not letting them speak beside the federal government.
Harper also said Monday that if conditions were favourable, he'd reopen the constitution and try to get Quebec to finally sign it.
"Anything we do would have to be incremental It would have to be when there's a fair degree of consensus," he said.
He also promised to reduce the so-called fiscal imbalance between Ottawa and the provinces.
"I want to find a long-term solution not just to solve the problem but also to end the annual pilgrimage of premiers and mayors to Ottawa for financing, because I don't think that's a way to run a federation," Harper said.
Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe appeared to approve of what Harper said about the fiscal imbalance, saying it was a Bloc idea.
"We were the first to talk about that in Ottawa," he said.
In his first comments about the campaign since it began, Quebec Premier Jean Charest said: "The plan goes in the direction Quebec is looking for."
Harper is trying to gain a foothold in the province, where the Conservatives have no seats. They also have yet to find candidates for 14 of the province's 75 ridings.
The race in Quebec is widely seen to be between the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois – with the Bloc thought to be far in front.
Anger over the sponsorship scandal has apparently driven many federalist voters away from the Liberals and into the ranks of those intending to vote for the Bloc.
Harper also said a priority for a Conservative government would be to put in place a federal accountability act.
Blaming the rise of support for the sovereigntist movement in Quebec on the Liberals and the sponsorship scandal, Harper said his party is better able to defend federalism.
The Liberals and Martin "have no credibility as defenders of national unity in this province," he told the Quebec Chamber of Commerce.
"We all know the federal Liberals will be severely punished by Quebecers on Jan. 23.
"As Conservatives, we do not believe that national unity and federalism itself should be punished as a consequence of one party."
Harper said a Conservative government would put an end to the scandals that have damaged the image of federalism in Quebec and have allowed profiteers to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers.
Among his proposals are:
- Revising and tightening all procedures related to issuing contracts and using public funds.
- Giving greater independence to the ethics commissioner and increased powers to the auditor general.
- Creating an independent and objective parliamentary budget authority.
- Ensuring that all governmental institutions – including foundations – are subject to full audits by the auditor general.
- Reforming federal political party financing along the lines of the model established in Quebec by René Lévesque.
