The recent referendum vote in Quebec was a very strong expression of citizens' wish for change. Now is the time to work toward change and to make reconciliation, and Prime Minister Jean Chretien has pledged such efforts.
Robert Richard, consul for the Canadian Consulate General's Office in Los Angeles, made this point during an address last week at the University of Utah.Speaking at the Hinckley Institute of Politics, Richard, who was born in Montreal and educated there and in Quebec City, shared his own views and those of the Canadian government on recent political developments in the country.
His visit to Utah came just nine days after Quebec emerged from its independence referendum virtually torn in half, with defeated separatists blaming immigrants and big business and defiantly promising another breakaway attempt.
The consul termed the referendum and events leading up to it a "stressful experience," leaving many Canadians and others wondering how "we came so close to self-destruction." But he said the events were a "great exercise in democratic government. With all our divisions and our differences (in Canada), we still have strongly shared values."
Richard told the U. gathering (he was also scheduled to speak at Brigham Young University) that 93.5 percent of eligible Quebec voters went to the polls. The referendum lost by a very slim margin - slightly more than 1 percent - with those voting against the "complex" measure wanting Canada to remain as it is. Separatists lost by 53,000 votes out of 4.6 million.
Richard said Chretien has agreed on the need to initiate changes and was "supported" in this overture by a number of premiers of the country's 10 provinces. He said Chretien has extended a hand of cooperation to the Quebec government and has said officials and citizens "have to work together to address the real need of Quebecers." Richard quoted Chretien as saying that all levels of government in the country must focus their energy on the economy and job creation.
The consul said Canada has survived constitutional difficulties in the past and has "grown and prospered" despite them. He admitted that there are "very serious fiscal imbalances and a large deficit" in Canada. But he said fundamentals of the Canadian economy are basically sound, referring to things such as a "very low rate" of inflation, "corporate profitability, solid job growth" and increased investments.
"With a strong economy and with our experience in dealing with constitutional issues, we should be able to find accommodations and arrangements," he said.
Richard made positive points about relations between the United States and Canada, saying, for example, that the two countries are the largest trade partners in the world.
"We exchange goods and merchandise to the tune of $1 billion a day. Canada buys more from the U.S. than the European Union countries taken together. Twenty-five percent of your (U.S.) exports go to Canada," he said.
Richard said a lot remains at stake. "Domestically, whatever our (constitutional or other) problems . . . the relationship will remain strong. We have common interests."
In responding to a question about the future of the maritime provinces should a subsequent referendum pass in favor of Quebec seceding from Canada, Richard said the provinces would be in a more "vulnerable position." Secession by Quebec, he said, would create "very serious problems" for the provinces.