Orientations of the Bloc Québécois
2000

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
A. Growth and Development of the Québec Nation
A.1 A Common Public Identity
A.2 Québec Citizenship: A Society Looking Toward the Future
A.3 Urgent Need for Sovereignty
B. An Original and Renewed Social Dynamic
B.1 Choosing Economic Progress, Social Solidarity and Respect for the Environment
B.2 A Model Specific to Québec
B.3 Sovereignty: Toward Progress and Solidarity
B.4 More Open Democratic Practices
B.4.1 Expanded Participatory Democracy
B.4.2 Stronger Representative Democracy
B.5 Sovereignty, A Democratic Plan
C. Partnership: An Open Game
C.1 Form to Be Clarified Through Negotiation
C.2 The Obligation to Negotiate
C.3 A Single Currency for the Americas
D. Living in A New World
D.1 Finding Our Place
D.2 Values We Must Promote
D.3 Sovereignty, A Modern Plan
E. Bloc Québécois: A Structured Action Program
E.1 The Sovereigntist Presence in Ottawa
E.2 Structured Action

Introduction

The Bloc Québécois is a sovereigntist party operating on the federal scene whose mission is to promote sovereignty and to defend the rights of the Québec people. Since the party's inception in 1991, Bloc Québécois members have never deviated from this fundamental mission. This faithfulness to the cause of Québec has made the Bloc Québécois a solid, organized party which now has thousands of members across Québec. With its membership base and popular support, which became apparent once again in June 1997 and in the Sherbrooke by-election on September 14, 1998, the BlocQuébécois plays a key role in developing Québec's aspirations.

The Bloc Québécois did not give up after the virtual referendum victory in October 1995. Instead of admitting defeat and going home, the Bloc Québécois' members kept the sovereigntist flame alive. The Bloc Québécois continues to promote the emergence of winning conditions which will soon lead us to sovereignty. With its partners, the Bloc Québécois has remained a vigorous defender of the Québec people's aspirations, in addition to serving as a focal point for the thinking and democratic debate so necessary for our society.

On the strength of its special mission, the Bloc Québécois has become a clearing house of ideas over the years. Its specific knowledge of the federal scene, developed through nearly 10 years of parliamentary activity, enables it to provide essential expertise in the debate on Québec's future.

Bloc MPs make Québec's voice heard in every forum, thus forcing federal authorities every day to commit themselves on issues of concern to Québeckers. The Bloc Québécois also informs Ottawa of every consensus reached in Québec society, where it has not forged that consensus itself.

Being the guardian of Québec's interests, the Bloc Québécois is a witness to the changes to which sovereign states must submit. In taking part in debates on topics ranging from national defence to fishing rights, from justice to international treaties, the Bloc Québécois' representatives fully understand what the administration of a sovereign state means. They see the often decisive effect of federal decisions on virtually all aspects of Québec life. Over time, Bloc MPs have learned to better understand the issues Québec may have to face as a country. They sense the urgent need for Québec sovereignty because they know how important it is to take part in international discussions leading to decisions that affect our future.

These issues include globalization, which, over the past 10 years, has submitted national economies to new imperatives. Trade liberalization is a challenge to all nations wishing to take an active part in these profound changes. In political terms, this new international framework affects all states. In the major forums where decisions of significant impact are made, only independent states have the opportunity to speak out. In those international forums, discussion turns not only on important political questions, but on cultural, social and economic issues as well. Québec must be able to sit at these bargaining tables.

The Bloc Québécois participates in a number of international forums and promote Québec's international presence and action, which remain quite limited as a result of the restrictions imposed by the federal system. In an era of major global changes, this system limits Québec's horizons, as may be seen from numerous examples.

Most Québeckers are concerned to see that their interests are poorly defended internationally. While the difficulty Québec and Canada have in living together within a single state is ultimately not the result of bad faith on the part of either partner, this does not excuse the federal government's aggressive actions and stance. This misunderstanding of the pact between two nations that accompanied Canada's inception in 1867 stems from different visions of the future. Since that time, the federal government's centralizing aims have been part of an overall plan whose ultimate objective is to build only one nation from sea to sea. Many Canadian intellectuals describe this aspiration as one of nation building. However, the vast majority of Québeckers view the future in a different light. Most want to live in a society that is a reflection of them, that is to say an open and pluralistic society which has long since gone beyond the stage of survival and mere affirmation. Québeckers form a people and want their society to grow and develop within a civic framework in which all have their place. The Bloc Québécois undertakes to support the Government of Québec every time it asks to be present in international forums where Québec's interests are at stake.

The Bloc Québécois observes that urgent action is needed. However, each of the actions that will lead us to full sovereignty for Québec must be based on extensive consideration of the general public's concerns. It is for this reason that the Bloc Québécois last winter introduced the four workshops on globalization, partnership, citizenship and democracy as well as defence and the promotion of Québec's interests.

The workshops, which brought together Bloc members and those of the sovereigntist movement, also helped in coming to an appreciation of the opinions of participants who were not necessarily associated with the sovereigntist cause. A number of ideas raised in the workshops stimulated vigorous debate, which had significant public impact. It became clear that members of the Bloc Québécois are working to build an open, democratic and progressive Québec, a sovereign Québec.

The orientations set out below are based to a large degree on the ideas discussed in the course of those workshops. This text was submitted for members' approval at general riding meetings, regional meetings and at the national convention. At each of these stages, every member had the opportunity to propose amendments.

There can be no doubt that the Bloc Québécois' contribution will provide food for thought on how to bring about the birth of our country and on the place Québec will occupy in a changing world.

A. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUEBEC NATION

A.1     A COMMON PUBLIC IDENTITY (back to top)

There could be no Québec nation if there did not exist, within Québec's borders, a majority of Francophone Québeckers with a specific language, culture and history as the foundation of their common identity. This majority must continue to grow and develop in a manner respectful of the cultural pluralism that exists in Québec society. In this way, Québeckers of all origins will have the opportunity and the duty to take part in the preservation of the French language, the dissemination and enrichment of Québec culture and the continuation of our common history.

The role of the French language in this construction as the glue of this citizenship is fundamentally important. Citizens must master the common language in order to be able to speak out fully in public debates, exercise their rights and perform their duties.

In addition, as Québec has been strongly influenced by France and especially by America, Québeckers have managed to establish the bases of a common public culture which takes into account the heritage of the Aboriginal peoples and the British presence, the last of which is particularly apparent in our parliamentary institutions.

Without attempting to provide an exhaustive account, we would say that Québec's common public history is mainly characterized by the fact that a Canadian national community of French origin took root on the banks of the St. Lawrence, then was conquered 150 years later by England.

Once it became a British colony, England attempted, first by the Royal Proclamation of 1763, to crush that nation, in particular by confining the "Canadiens", as they were first called, to the St. Lawrence Valley, replacing French civil and criminal law with English law, abolishing the French royal government, replacing it with an English civil government and imposing the oath of allegiance. This first attempt to assimilate the Canadien nation into the British nation failed because too few British subjects settled in the Province of Québec following the Conquest and because the revolution that was building in the 13 American colonies required England to make various concessions to prevent the Canadiens from rebelling with the Americans and to ensure they assisted the British in repelling the American invaders. The Québec Act of 1774 restored virtually all the former borders of New France together with French civil law, abolished the oath of allegiance and enabled a few Canadiens to take part in the English civil government.

However, the Loyalists' arrival in the province following American independence ultimately resulted in the division of Québec into Upper and Lower Canada and in the introduction of a non-responsible representative parliamentary system under the Constitutional Act of 1791. Elected members and patriotic citizens fought for democracy and for the recognition of our national rights, but in vain. It was this system of non-responsible government that would lead the Patriotes to take up arms against the British authorities. The revolt of the Patriotes served as a pretext for the British authorities to carry out plans for the union of the two Canadas which had been proposed by some British authority since 1810 as a way of placing the Canadiens in a minority condition, thus skewing representation in the House of Assembly. Although unjust for the Canadiens who now consider themselves French-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would aggravate the Canadiens' minority status. The Rouges demanded that the people be consulted, but this was not to be the case. A slim majority of members voted in favour of the plan. The French Canadians' minority status would increase in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as a result of immigration policies not conducive to the settlement of Francophone immigrants in the West.

Since the Conquest, all attempts to achieve recognition for the existence of French-Canadian nation and, more recently, for the Québec people have failed. In addition, starting with the Trudeau regime, the federal government has continued to deny the existence of that nation through its multiculturalism policy by rejecting biculturalism. However, since the Quiet Revolution, a civic and inclusive Québec nation, together with the increasing diversity of Québec society, has been building through a process which continues even today and requires ongoing efforts. It is essential to state that the building of this nation promotes pluralism. Membership in this nation is in no way based on ethnic, political or religious allegiance.

Things have profoundly changed in scarcely a few decades. Through the-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would hard work of many, the struggles of the nationalist movements and the creation of the Parti Québécois, the National Assembly has passed various language-related statutes. First of all was Bill 63, which provoked strong opposition in all sectors, then Bill 22 which, despite its weaknesses, recognized French as the official language of Québec and, of course, Bill 101, which provides better protection for the French language, even though its minority status in North America and the fragile linguistic balance on Montreal Island will always require special attention. Today Québeckers of all origins head up businesses previously owned solely by Anglophones, and the Québec state has become a modern state. We should pride ourselves on these victories and salute the efforts made by sovereigntists to achieve them.

In the stages Québec has gone through, it may be considered that, from the late 1950s until the mid-1960s, the nationalism of survival, which was hitherto current in Québec, was replaced by a nationalism of affirmation. Today, a third type of nationalism is taking root and growing. After survival and affirmation, the time has come to grow and develop and for Québec to take its rightful place. This means that Québeckers must focus -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would their attention on new issues, keeping a watchful eye to ensure previous gains are maintained. Québec is now ready for a new conception of its identity.

This new struggle is a continuation of the old one. Québeckers of all origins are the heirs of history, a history that must continue to be transmitted to all new generations because we must understand that, if not for the French-Canadian nationalism of yesteryear, there would be no Québécois nationalism today.

Yes, it is true that our nationalism has changed. French-Canadian nationalism has yielded to the Québec nation, which includes all citizens who recognize its existence and rights and who wish to belong to it. Our plan for nationhood is that of a country with a French-speaking majority in which people from around the world are invited to join with us, to learn our language and to enrich our culture.

In this perspective, all Québec citizens alter Québec's identity by appropriating its characteristics and adding their own cultural background. In this way, they contribute to expanding our common history, which includes the specific histo-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ries of the Anglophone minority and Aboriginal nations.

In this respect, by making Québec the first North American state to recognize Aboriginal nations within its borders, René Lévesque bequeathed to us responsibility to recognize Aboriginal rights, including the right to self-government. Only through dialogue and mutual respect can Québeckers and the Aboriginal nations succeed in meeting this challenge.

The Québec nation's existence, need for recognition and desire for growth and development underpin the political design for the national sovereignty of Québec. And it is solely up to the Québec people to choose its own future through its democratic institutions. The Bloc Québécois will continue the struggle for recognition of the Québec people and its right to choose by democratic means to accede the sovereignty. It will fight every measure designed to impede that freedom. Consequently, it is solely up to the National Assembly of Québec to write the referendum question and the Assembly is the only democratic institution that will set the parameters for the next referendum.

-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would A.2 QUEBEC CITIZENSHIP: A SOCIETY LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE (back to top)

For a few centuries, notably after the Conquest in 1760, the French-Canadian people (which called itself "Canadien" at the time) had to rely on its own strengths to ensure its survival and to resist the many outside pressures preventing it from moving into the future. Language and religion played a decisive role as rallying factors in this regard.

During those centuries of resistance, solidarity arose as an essential condition for continued social cohesiveness, which alone could ensure that our people would move forward. However, the situation has radically changed in recent decades.

Objective conditions must now be brought together if the Québec nation wishes to join the concert of modern nations in a position to address the new challenges it faces. The diversity of lifestyles, beliefs and values raise these challenges to society as a whole.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would a, sans-serif">Citizenship is more than a passport. It essentially confers the status of active member in political society, from which stem the right to vote in elections and referendums and eligibility to stand as a candidate for election. This is what grants individuals belonging to the same political community rights (civic, political and social) and responsibilities enabling them to establish relations among themselves and with the state. Possessing rights is one thing, the ability to exercise them is another. To exercise his citizenship fully, an individual must be able to take part in society and have the opportunity to be involved in it and join in social solidarity.

Internationally, Québec citizenship as such does not yet exist. Sovereignty will make it possible to proclaim Québec citizenship, which will guarantee the same rights and responsibilities as exist in other democratic countries.

We must now consider the ways in which all Québec citizens can participate fully in democratic life and debate and the advancement of Québec society. In this way, we will discover the conditions for the genuine exercise of this Québec citizenship which is in the process of -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would being built.

These civic relations promoting the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms by every Québec citizen must be based on the principle of membership in a single political community - states, law, institutions, etc. - whose common national language is French. It will then be possible to design a common future based on shared societal choices, which requires a reinforcement of democratic life.

It is therefore important to clearly state the components of the common civic framework and to trace out the path for transforming our institutions and adapting them to this growing diversity. We can discuss terms and conditions, but the principles must be a reflection of a modern Québec with a future.

Québec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms can provide the frame of reference which all citizens must share. The Charter states that the fundamental rights and freedoms shall be exercised in a manner consistent with democratic values, the public order and the general welfare of the citizens of Québec. For the Bloc Québécois, these fundamental rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the coll-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ective will of Québeckers. Individuals and institutions must recognize that they are responsible together for ensuring that all Québeckers can exercise these rights and freedoms.

Since citizenship confers the status whereby, regardless of social, ethnic and religious distinctions, all citizens adhere to a single political community and are entitled to take part equally in a common future, one can understand the importance of developing clear areas in which citizenship can be exercised. In the Canadian context, it is not always easy to see this as being a result, for example, of the flags, passport and vote of allegiance required to obtain citizenship. Community organizations, in particular ethnocultural organizations, financed by two orders of government and subject to at times contradictory and often competing rules and policies, face these ambivalences every day. Québec sovereignty will be a formidable tool for removing these ambiguities.

The Bloc Québécois observes that the status of citizen entails a set of specific realities (work, living conditions, family, various allegiances, etc.). Building a Québec citizenship presupposes an articulate overall vision of the issu-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would es which goes beyond the traditional approaches. In the life of the party, in the structure of its authorities, this approach will have to result in an appropriate practice. In its actions and positions, the Bloc Québécois will publicize and promote its views on citizenship, culture and language.

Recognition of citizenship status goes hand in hand with the struggle against discrimination and racism, a struggle which the Bloc Québécois, its members and its parliamentary wing will continue to conduct. A sovereign Québec will also have to adopt a policy promoting immigration and integration in the regions.

A.3 URGENT NEED FOR SOVEREIGNTY (back to top)

While Québec has been attempting to build a common public Québec identity for several decades now, Canada and its centralizing policies define Québec as a mere province inhabited by a majority French-language ethnic community. Canada clearly refuses to recognize the existence of a Québec people, in the inclusive sense o-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would f that term, or Québec culture, thus reducing Québec culture to a mere regional component of Canadian culture or limiting it to its French Canadian component.

Despite all the ardent individual and collective desire to build this modern and open Québec citizenship, the constraints associated with Québec's status as a mere province make it impossible to achieve this objective fully.

In fact what we are dealing with is the federal government's wish to implement a Canadian culture, an exercise which Canadians call nation-building. This might be a legitimate approach if it did not also prevent the building of Québec as the Québec people wishes.

While Canada works hard to build its country, Québec still finds itself restricted in a political system imposed on it against its will. For a number of decades now, increasing numbers of Québeckers have realized that only sovereignty will enable the Québec people to develop fully in all fields.

Over the past 40 years, Québec citizenship has been constructed on major buildin-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would g blocks such as respect for rights and freedoms, protection and promotion of a public life in which French is the common language, the search for a balance between individual and collective rights, but also the implementation of instruments for public and private growth and the introduction of progressive policies for greater social justice.

In an evermore pronounced manner, federal action has had the effect of ethnicizing political discourse and increasing the risk of cleavage among citizens. Thus a genuine policy on Québec citizenship cannot ultimately be achieved within the federal framework.

Since the challenges of democracy and citizenship cannot be resolved individually, Québec, in this field as in others, must have all the tools it needs to achieve its objectives, that is to say to achieve full sovereignty.

B. AN ORIGINAL AND RENEWED SOCIAL DYNAMIC

B.1 CHOOSING ECONOMIC PROGRESS, SOCIAL SOLIDARITY AND RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would >(back to top)

The exercise of citizenship and the Québec people's progress toward sovereignty cannot be detached from the problems of poverty, unemployment and immigration. The economic situation remains difficult for many citizens of even developed countries. Economic changes and the reduction in governments' traditional fiscal flexibility can result in major differences among social groups. Québec sovereignty will have to address these differences.

Québec has chosen progress, a form of progress which, while including account economic growth and technological progress, refers to economic, social and cultural development. This progress must enable citizens to better understand the nature around them. The society in which they live leads them to protect and renew the resources available to them.

Income redistribution policies are essential, but employment is the first way in which citizens take part in wealth creation and redistribution. Although employment is undergoing profound change, it nevertheless constitutes a major condition for -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would integration into society and an essential factor in personal achievement. It is an essential condition for the exercise of full citizenship. Poverty, unemployment, under-employment and economic and social insecurity all too often result in exclusion from citizenship. The resulting lack of hope paves the way to physical and mental illness, violence, alcoholism, drug abuse and suicide.

Exclusion comes at an enormous cost, first for those who experience it, but also in terms of reduced tax revenues, lower business turnover and tougher working conditions. Welfare recipients, unemployed workers, women and, in particular, women who are heads of single-parent families, young people and children, not to mention the populations of low density regions and immigrants, are the first victims. Poverty leaves human tragedy in its wake and results in social problems and costs that must be addressed by our society and governments. Decent-paying jobs must become a priority for all democratic societies like Québec. And ensuring that all Québeckers have good incomes and good quality of life must become a sovereign Québec's first social objective.

Every country, and this is particularly tr-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ue of countries with open economies such as Québec, must be concerned about its international trade position if it wants to raise its population's standard of living over the long term and ensure growth in productive, high-quality jobs. Education and training are fundamental factors in any strategy for remaining internationally competitive. Developing entrepreneurship is also an excellent way to encourage the creativity and genius that characterize Québeckers.

Like all developed societies, the main challenge Québec must meet is that of ensuring that economic growth and productivity gains do not result in job losses, as is all too often the case today.

All economic and social players share responsibility for finding innovative solutions. As emphasized in the International Labour Organization's last report (1998-1999), it is fundamentally important that our vocational and continuing training system rely on a social partnership between employers, who are skill users, workers, who benefit from training, and government, which provides the framework for training. One of the benefits of social partnership in the training field is that it contributes to the production of more r-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ealistic information on our skill needs. Decentralization and consultation of the people in the field, particularly in the training field, offers the same benefit.

An employment strategy cannot be implemented unless it is the subject of a strong social consensus. In the current Canadian context, however, it would be unthinkable for the various social players to form the necessary cohesiveness to implement a genuine job creation policy. And the causes are well known: the many levels of government, competition among and overlap of initiatives, a diversity of situations, interests, visions and priorities. We have emphasized the strategic importance of education and training in an employment policy context. As all the players and institutions responsible in these areas fall within Québec jurisdiction, any coherent policy would require all the tools in the field to be integrated under the Québec government's responsibility. In actual fact, however, Ottawa and its centralizing vision make this integration impossible. Furthermore, an employment strategy also involves a reform of the way in which work is organized. Over the past 25 years, productivity increases have been the result of major investments in new production technologies requiring fewer -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would workers. The Bloc Québécois feels that a work time reduction policy adapted to the various economic sectors must be introduced by government.

The responsibility of the Québec government, like that of every government in a democratic society, is to galvanize growth while reducing inequalities and exclusions in an environmentally friendly manner. This presupposes limiting the role of the state where it stifles individual or collective initiative and reinforcing it where it creates the conditions for private initiatives to be effective and limits the negative effects of market forces. The same approach must prevail with regard to taxation: care must be taken to secure funding for public services citizens want, to stimulate economic growth and employment and to share wealth fairly.

Promoting the economy and employment is not incompatible with adequate social protection. The OECD countries most open to international trade are also those where government plays a major role. Well-designed and balanced social protection can become a factor in competitiveness because it ensures a high degree of labour flexibility in exchange for a certain economic security. Socially and econom-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ically, it is essential to renewing the social contract. The Bloc Québécois will conduct a thorough examination of the issues involved in implementing guaranteed minimum income measures.

When it intervenes, the state must do so with flexible legislative means in order to prevent non-standard employment and civilize the new forms of work so that those who live from such employment are used to the best of their abilities instead of being mere low-cost factors of flexibility for businesses. The government must establish incentive policies so that employers develop employment over the long term. Similarly, all social legislation must be reviewed and adapted to the new reality of the labour market, particularly as regards part-time work, seasonal work and self-employment, so as to meet the economic security objectives for which that legislation was passed. At the federal level, this imbalance is clear, for example, from an analysis of the Employment Insurance Act which, while reducing coverage for all contributing workers, penalizes even further young people, new entrants, women, self-employed workers and seasonal workers.

The Bloc Québécois intends to continue the fight to -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would improve access to, coverage provided by and the benefits from the employment insurance system and to secure the abolition of the discriminatory clauses in the employment insurance program, in particular as regards young people and women, self-employed workers, part-time employees, seasonal workers and new entrants.

The Bloc Québécois supports young people in their fight to abolish the clauses that discriminate against them in the labour market. It demands that the federal government legislate to eliminate these clauses. It is also fighting the discrimination against workers under federal jurisdiction who do not enjoy anti-strike-breaking legislation.

Québec women whose working conditions fall under federal jurisdiction have become second-class citizens because they do not have the same social protection as other Québeckers. This is particularly true of the provisions respecting precautionary cessation of work and maternity leave. The Bloc will fight these discriminatory clauses for these women.

The Québec government clearly does not have all the necessary tools to move forward in its commitm-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ent toward social solidarity with the groups left vulnerable by the current economic situation or, in particular, to consider new guaranteed national income measures. The Bloc Québécois therefore demands that the funds allocated to family policies and income support measures for the unemployed be transferred to Québec to consolidate Québec's anti-poverty policy. The Bloc Québécois continues to demand that Québec receive its fair share of structural expenditures made by the federal government. The Bloc Québécois will join the fight to repair the injustices done to Québec in the area of federal spending on research and development, goods and services purchases, defence spending and public assistance for international development.

The Bloc Québécois will begin working immediately to form a consensus among the main players in Québec society for the creation of a Québec employment insurance fund administered jointly by workers, employers and the government.

Like other peoples of the world, Québeckers are also very much concerned by phenomena such as the greenhouse effect, global warming, climate change, increasing numbers of natural disasters and unbridled exploitation of natu-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ral resources around the world. The Bloc Québécois, in cooperation with the Government of Québec, will bring Québeckers' environmental concerns to international attention.

B.2 A MODEL SPECIFIC TO QUÉBEC (back to top)

Québec has developed its own social and economic dynamic for meeting the challenges of progress in a constantly changing world.

In Québec, economic, social and cultural activities are managed in a very particular way since both the Québec government and Québec's social and community players contribute to it in various ways. This is what we call the Québec model. Reducing its originality to the space which government occupies in Québec society does not do it justice.

This model has first been built around our major economic institutions, both public (Société générale de financement, Caisse de dépôt et placement, etc.) and private (Desjardins, FTQ's Fonds de solidarité -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would des travailleurs et travailleuses, CNTU's Fondaction, etc.). These institutions contribute to the development of Québec's very strong private sector, to a hosting policy for foreign investment, development of the new technology sector and employment protection in case of serious difficulty. These institutions are still as important as they were and it is not by chance that they are regularly attacked by the federal government (Bill S-31, lowering limits on contributions to workers' funds).

However, the Québec model has been seriously refined over the years. It acts at all levels, national, regional and local, but is generally not an institutional model as may be seen elsewhere. Far from being rigid, it has constantly adapted to an ever-changing Québec. For example, the new joint action and social partnership practices that have developed over the past 20 years are a major component of a dialogue between the state and civil society for making possible the implementation of shared economic and social development strategies. The presence of community groups at the 1996 Summit on Québec's economic and social future is revealing in this regard, particularly since the Summit was a first. This helps to strengthen democracy and make our collect-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ive decisions in a more transparent manner taking into account all interests in society.

Joint action is a means. It does not deny the existence of differences in both interests and views. It helps find ways of overcoming them. In this sense, by fostering participation and social partnership, joint action in support of the work of elected representatives, including parliamentarians, is truly part of the political dynamic of every genuinely democratic society.

The Québec model is definitely an asset in facing the challenges of globalization while maintaining high social standards. While the new rules of international trade reduce reliance on a state's traditional tools, they also restrict a society's ability to develop an original social dynamic. The Bloc Québécois is committed to encouraging every initiative designed to protect the social rights of citizens threatened by the globalization of trade.

B.3 SOVEREIGNTY: TOWARD PROGRESS AND SOLIDARITY (back to top)-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would

Without listening to Québec, Canada is moving forward and making every effort to forge a single identity, refusing to recognize the existence of Québec's identity. Through its general spending power and the residual power conferred on it under the Constitution, the federal government intervenes in fields outside its jurisdiction. It also invokes the imperatives of the new world economic order to legitimize its intervention in all aspects of economic, social and cultural life in Canada.

In signing the framework agreement on Social Union, all the provinces except Québec, which refused to do so, mainly recognized that the federal government now has a major coordinating and administrative role to play in fields of exclusive provincial jurisdiction. Ottawa now has all the necessary tools for a gradual reorganization of the health, education and social services sectors in accordance with Canadian national standards.

It is striking to see the constantly increasing importance the federal government attaches to the development of Canadian standards, which, in a number of fields results in head-on collision-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would s between Canada's will and Québec's fundamental aspirations, which have often been affirmed by its successive governments.

Québec's economy, which is already based to a large degree on knowledge, high technology and exports, suffers under federal policies, which are by turns harmful and contradictory and duplicate what is already being done. Its provincial status prevents Québec from fully integrating and utilizing its resources.

Québec's culture is now required to blend into Canadian culture under a Canadian policy of standardization that stems more from propaganda than support for the arts. At a time when a crucial battle has begun in international forums for cultural diversity, Québec does not control all the political, financial and structural tools it needs.

Already hurt by federal budget cuts, Québec's education system must now face Canadian standardization, the purposes of which often contradict its own, federal overlap and the wasting of resources. The debate over the Millennium Scholarship Fund is merely an example of this.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would vetica, sans-serif">Since the Constitution was repatriated in 1982, we have witnessed an acceleration in the process of centralizing decisions at the federal level. The Québec regions aspire to a decentralization of powers that would enable them to have decisions made at a level closer to their citizens. Sovereigntists share these aspirations, which are unfortunately limited by the existing federal political structure. This decentralization can only be fully realized in a sovereign Québec, even though the current impossibility of completing this long-awaited reform still leaves the regions deprived of the means they need for their development.

One of the reasons the federal government wishes to interfere in Québec's areas of jurisdiction stems from the size of the budget surpluses it has generated for a number of years. These surpluses are proof that its fiscal resources are disproportionate to its responsibilities and impose a needlessly heavy burden on taxpayers. This intolerable situation has particular consequences for the ability of the Québec government, which provides virtually all direct services to the public, to assume its responsibilities with all the necessary resources.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ca, sans-serif">In its parliamentary activities, the Bloc Québécois objects by all means to the government's tendency to increase the number of programs and spend in areas outside its jurisdiction.

The Bloc Québécois demands that a broad public consultation be held concerning the use of the large federal budget surpluses and that Québec receive its fair share of those surpluses.

The Bloc requires a substantial reduction in the tax burden on middle-income families. The essential portion of direct and indirect tax cuts must benefit this class of taxpayers. These are the middle-income families which have borne the brunt of the federal government's cuts to social programs since 1994, cuts which resulted in the budget surpluses it is now using for partisan purposes. The Bloc Québécois demands that the Minister of Finance conduct a reform of the tax system in which the first measure is the indexation of the tax tables. The Bloc Québécois also demands the amendment of statutes governing family trusts which make it possible to defer tax payments to future generations and to transfer to tax havens corporate income taxes payable to the state to tax havens.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would stify>The Bloc Québécois also demands that the federal government amend the employment insurance eligibility rules and that it cease to use funds paid into the employment insurance fund for other purposes.

The Bloc Québécois will also work in cooperation with Québec to recover the amounts which the federal government owes it for the harmonization of the GST and QST. It will also join forces with the Québec National Assembly to adopt the necessary measures to acquire the entire tax field currently occupied by the federal government, collect all taxes within Québec's borders and subsequently repay the federal government for the services it provides to Québec which are clearly identified as being under its jurisdiction under the Constitution of Canada and, if necessary, hold a referendum.

So that Québec can integrate all its policies, recover all the resources it needs to implement them, so that those means and policies can reflect Québec's way of doing things and reflect the broad outlines for a form of development that we have chosen together, sovereignty is more necessary than ever.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Similarly, to establish a genuine economic and social development policy, which alone can provide a better social safety net, it has become imperative that the Government of Québec be the only government that can design and implement such a policy. Québec's sovereignty will be a decisive factor in achieving this objective.

Until Québec becomes sovereign, Québeckers will continue to build an original society. The Bloc Québécois must play a prominent role in promoting and defending Québec's interests. It will have to continue its important work in constantly restating Québec's traditional demands: that the federal government withdraw completely from all of Québec's areas of exclusive jurisdiction and that Québec recover its fair share of all federal programs.

B.4 MORE OPEN DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES (back to top)

Citizen participation is the key to a vital democracy. Objectives that have been debated in advance and collectively app-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would roved thus become broadly shared and there is thus a greater chance that the conditions in which they are achieved can be brought together.

As is the case elsewhere in the world, the Québec public has great expectations for fuller participation in public life. Citizens demand more direct relations with the political class based to a greater degree on consultation, information sharing and broader access to discussion.

Being aware of this fact, the Bloc Québécois and its parliamentary wing have always tried to create more opportunities for consultation and exchange with citizens and social players (union and management organizations, women's and youth groups, community organizations and the institutional community).

Out of a concern for transparency and democracy, the Bloc Québécois now wishes to systematize its relations with civil society and undertakes to put a permanent mechanism in place for consulting on socio-economic issues. This mechanism will also enable social players to discuss their concerns with the Bloc Québécois.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would sans-serif">B.4.1 EXPANDED PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY (back to top)

Over the past 20 years, Québec has managed to develop a unique model based on constant dialogue between state and civil society through public consultation and joint action. This dialogue is promoted through summits, regional and sectoral forums and local and regional development organizations.

This participatory democracy can be strengthened in two ways: by specifying the rules governing consultation and joint action and providing the wherewithal to participate in this social dialogue to those who have none. Consultation and joint action must occur before and after a decision is made, as the decisions are still made by elected representatives who are accountable to the population as a whole.

To enable individuals and groups to take the initiative in public debates which animate our democratic life, the Bloc Québécois feels that this right of initiative, a measure that exists in nearly half of-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would the American states and in Switzerland, should be introduced in a sovereign Québec. This measure enables a specific number of citizens who sign a petition to initiate referendums on specific matters, on draft legislation or international treaties of exceptional importance. The legislation will guarantee that, in the spirit of the Elections Financing Act, only persons who have the right to vote may finance petition campaigns. Referendums will be held in the spirit of Québec democracy in accordance with the principles of the Referendum Act, including spending control and the consultative nature of the process, with the National Assembly retaining decision-making power.

A genuine political decentralization will help bring citizens closer to the levels where decisions are made. In its role as a partner, the state reduces the degree to which power is centralized by conferring greater responsibilities on regional and local communities. This decentralization will then constitute an essential factor in participatory democracy in the context of a sovereign Québec.

B.4.2 STRONGER REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would (back to top)

The relationship between all citizens, their representatives and their government develops in the context of representative democracy.

Stronger democratic practices are an essential condition for restoring citizens' trust in their political institutions. If their expectations remain unmet, an increasingly cynical attitude toward the political class should not be surprising. The problem is even more apparent where a society transmits this cynicism to its young people, thus to a large degree leading to its paralysis.

For example, the weakness of the Political Party Finance Act at the federal level definitely does not help cultivate trust in democracy. The Bloc Québécois will continue the struggle to have a federal statute passed based on Québec's political party financing legislation.

Representative democracy must be strengthened. Our democratic system is based on representation and on the trust the people place in their institutions. In this c-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ontext, our political institutions must be rendered more representative of Québec's diverse population. A number of proposals have been submitted, in particular for voting reform which would introduce elements of proportionality. These relevant proposals should be debated in greater depth. The Bloc Québécois will continue its thinking on the democratization of political institutions and on ways to ensure that those institutions reflect Québec's diversity.

It is important that those responsible for representing their fellow citizens have the best tools with which to perform this important duty. They stand at the centre of the debate in which the common good will be determined.

The Bloc Québécois is convinced that citizens' trust in their representatives will be enhanced through a new balance enabling elected members to more freely express the expectations of their voters or their moral values as they relate to the orientations of the party which they also represent. This balance must be achieved without in any way sacrificing citizens' right to have their representatives vote in accordance with the formal commitments made by their party during the election campaign. This-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would search for a balance is a delicate matter and must go together with the necessary cohesiveness within the parliamentary wing. The Bloc Québécois accordingly proposes that party discipline in the parliamentary wing be relaxed provided members promote Québec sovereignty and comply with the Bloc Québécois' declaration of principles and with the party's electoral promises.

It would be possible to take a quick first step at the federal level to improve the degree of representation by ensuring women are better represented in Parliament and even to aim for parity between men and women. Being aware that there is no consensus on this subject, the Bloc Québécois nevertheless believes this is an objective worth achieving and will work on sharing its thoughts on this point. As this is a particular responsibility for political parties, the Bloc Québécois, together with groups concerned by this issue, will consider objectives to be achieved, steps that must be taken and ways of doing so. Incentive legislative measures will be necessary. In each election, a pragmatic approach will make it possible to move toward and, finally, achieve parity.

B.5 SOVEREIGNTY, A DEM-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would OCRATIC PLAN (back to top)

The main limit that Canadian federalism places on strengthened democracy is that it prevents Québec citizenship from having any basis in law. In so doing, it limits Québec society's ability to fully meet the challenge of democratizing its institutions since democracy and citizenship are intimately related.

Canada continues its nation-building process, although that process is characterized by a refusal to recognize its identity. At the same time, in its own development, Québec society more and more often collides, and in an increasingly brutal way, with this construction of the Canadian state. Québec is thus carried along without its consent, a situation that constitutes an attack on the instruments of its own construction and on respect for its democratic life. This Canadian nation-building, which is presented as the political status quo, has never been subjected to democratic debate.

Québec suffers from a democratic deficit at the international level. Can-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ada, which does not even recognize the Québec people, represents Québec at the various tables where nations negotiate the new ground rules to which Québec will nevertheless be subject.

Québec sovereignty, the essential condition for Québec citizens' access to international negotiations, will have to be accompanied by vigilance on part of the Québec state to prevent abuses such as the planned Multilateral Investment Agreement (MIA).

Québec sovereignty will put Québec citizens in closer touch with the international issues often perceived as distant from people, but which have an impact on their everyday lives, and enable them to debate those issues democratically. The federal government completely fails to consult Québec and Canadian civil society on these fundamentally important issues. Sovereignty will make democratic room for civil society.

To prepare for the future, the Bloc Québécois undertakes to establish a committee for reflection and strategic action on the Constitution consisting of equal numbers of men and women, parliamentarians and non-parliamentarians and Québeckers of various -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would origins and backgrounds for the purpose of considering the fundamental orientations and general content of the constitution of a sovereign Québec. In particular, this constitution should favour expanded participatory democracy and strengthen representative democracy for Québec.

C. PARTNERSHIP: AN OPEN GAME (back to top)

A proposal of partnership has long been part of the sovereigntist plan. This openness to partnership must be understood in the context of a deepening of our democratic life. The proposal of partnership is proof that the sovereigntist plan is part of an approach that takes everyone's interests into account.

C.1 FORM TO BE CLARIFIED THROUGH NEGOTIATION (back to top)

The Bloc Québécois believes it is in the interests of both Québec and Canada to establi-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would sh an economic and political partnership and stands resolutely in favour of such an agreement between sovereign countries.

The Bloc observes that it strengthen representative democracy for Québec.

C. PARTNERSHIP: AN OPEN GAME (back to top)

A proposal of partnership has long been part of the sovereigntist plan. This openness to partnership must be understood in the context of a deepening of our democratic life. The proposal of partnership is proof that the sovereigntist plan is part of an approach that takes everyone's interests into account.

C.1 FORM TO BE CLARIFIED THROUGH NEGOTIATION (back to top)

The Bloc Québécois believes it is in the interests of both Québec and Canada to establi-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would is not appropriate at this time to determine the partnership model that should be favoured, although it is appropriate to advance a number of forms of partnership, such as unofficial economic integration, economic union, economic union with sectoral policy agreements or a political arrangement similar to that of the European Union. In any case, the best model will be that adopted by the two partners at the end of the negotiation process, the one that best reflects the interests of all concerned.

Whatever partnership model is adopted, considerable attention will have to be given to the interests of the linguistic and cultural minorities. Respect for the rights of the Anglophone minority in Québec and of the Acadian and Francophone communities in Canada should be a central issue in the negotiations between Québec and Canada. For this reason, it will be necessary to consider establishing an independent bilateral monitoring commission responsible for recommending ways of guaranteeing the protection of linguistic and cultural minority rights.

Respect for and protection of the rights of the Aboriginal nations living in both countries will also have to be guaranteed. For this -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would reason, consideration should be given to the possibility of assuming, jointly with the Canadians, fiduciary responsibility for the Aboriginal nations living in both countries until we have entered into an arrangement deemed to be more advantageous to both sides and to guarantee the free movement of Aboriginals belonging to those nations.

C.2 THE OBLIGATION TO NEGOTIATE (back to top)

The Supreme Court's opinion on Québec sovereignty emphasizes that Canada will have an obligation to negotiate with Québec following a YES vote in a referendum. In addition, the Canadians will have to negotiate the conditions of secession taking into account the interests of Québeckers, Canadians, linguistic and cultural minorities and the Aboriginal nations. They will also have to consider the economic union which has been in place since Confederation.

If Québec were to make a proposal in this area taking into account the economic union, the interests of Canadians and those of the ling-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would uistic and cultural minorities and Aboriginal nations, Canada would have an obligation to negotiate the partnership proposal put to it.

Through its strategic position in the House of Commons, the Bloc Québécois is able to continue dialogue with Canada together with its sovereigntist partners and will introduce formal consultation and discussion mechanisms for this purpose. These channels of communication may take the form of liaison bulletins, annual meetings with Canadian stakeholders and discussions coordinated by the parliamentary wing.

The Bloc Québécois observes that, even without an agreement with Canada, Québec, once sovereign, would be viable, prosperous and open to the world. The importance of the north-south trade link relative to the east-west axis provides Québec with greater freedom of choice. Other alliances are possible, in particular within North America and the Americas as a whole. New development opportunities will arise from the economic integration of the Americas which a single currency would do much to promote.

C.3 A SINGLE CURRENCY FOR THE AMERICAS

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would > (back to top)

In the context of the globalization of markets and the increased speculation characterizing modern economies, the monetary policy of many countries is now vulnerable and may become ineffective and even harmful to the economies and trade of those same countries. For this reason, the Bloc Québécois has started a debate on the possibility of adopting a common currency in North America, then in the three Americas. Although the federal government has rejected this idea, the debate is nevertheless now under way in Canada, thanks to the sovereigntists.

There is still a danger for Québec and Canada and that is the dollarization of Latin America, which would leave us isolated with regard to the United States in any eventual negotiations on the subject. If a large number of South American countries unconditionally adopted the U.S. dollar, Canada and Québec would carry virtually no weight in negotiations on the conditions for the creation of a monetary union. This is why we must take the initiative in this debate.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ace="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It seems obvious that, with the euro, a new international financial crisis would not have the same repercussions in Europe. However, the effects of such a crisis here at home would undoubtedly be the same, perhaps even more serious. Speculators, who have now lost 11 European currencies on which to speculate could well turn against the Canadian dollar. Economic shocks will henceforth be amplified instead of absorbed by fixed exchange rate currencies. In these circumstances, a single currency for the Americas appears to be a promising way to protect ourselves against speculation.

Monetary union appears all the more logical since the economies of Canada and the United States are already highly integrated. This means that economic integration is already much further advanced in North America than in Europe.

With a single currency, Québec businesses would operate in a more stable environment and have much greater incentives to invest in increased productivity and innovation, crucial factors in the present economic order.

We would of course oppose the-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would idea of a common currency under which abandoning the central bank would deprive Canada of control over its monetary policy. However, control over monetary policy is a highly relative matter. In actual fact, Canada's central bank has virtually always set its bank rate on the basis of, but above, the U.S. rate, as a result of which Canada has an unemployment rate twice that of the United States. This means that neither Québec nor Canada have any genuine control over Canadian monetary policy. There may of course be disadvantages to abandoning national currencies. This cannot be denied. A currency is first and foremost an instrument of trade and a store of value. This is why we must take action now to consider the conditions of monetary integration and the necessary steps to achieve it.

The Bloc Québécois will promote North American monetary union with a view to an eventual monetary union of the three Americas. The Bloc Québécois' parliamentary wing will continue to press the federal government to begin a genuine public debate on the issue of monetary union and its realization.

The financial crisis in Southeast Asia in the summer of 1998 rekindled the debate on exchange co-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ntrols and introduction of a tax on speculative financial transactions. The Bloc Québécois will continue its thinking on measures that can be proposed to eliminate speculative short-term capital movements and will assess the possibility of supporting measures similar to the Tobin tax.

D. LIVING IN A NEW WORLD (back to top)

Québeckers have long had frequent contact with the outside world. This tradition of openness to others has constantly been apparent over the past four centuries.

Québec is also open through the institutional ties and relations it maintains with the rest of the world, through various forms of international cooperation and through its tradition as a country of immigration. All this has helped, and continues to help share our identity, which we must now complete.

Globalization is now an undeniable fact. It offers the potential for increased wealth for the s-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ocieties taking part in it. This is particularly true of small- and medium-size societies for which access to the world is an essential condition to their economic and social progress. However, globalization without rules can result in increased inequalities and thus poverty. The Bloc Québécois is aware that there must be a balance between openness and regulation and intends to advocate globalization with a human face, which will enable citizens to enjoy the wealth they create. In this perspective, the Bloc Québécois has a duty to promote the Tobin tax and support any initiative designed to impose a 0.5% tax on international financial transactions (estimated at $1.5 billion a day). This tax would generate $7.5 billion a day in revenue and help eliminate education and health problems in the world, while disciplining speculators and stock markets in this age of globalization.

The creation of a Centre for the Multidisciplinary Study of Globalization responsible for monitoring globalization trends and their consequences in a number of areas (economic and trade, social, cultural, political, environmental and computer science) would definitely be a sufficient tool for an understanding of this phenomenon. The Centre would also have a mandate t-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would o monitor Québec's interests in the matter of the globalization of markets and free trade.

The Bloc Québécois undertakes to promote the establishment of such a centre.

D.1 TAKING OUR PLACE (back to top)

Like every player in the international system, Québec operates in an environment that determines the influence it will have on others and shapes its development. Everything that occurs outside its borders concerning its areas of jurisdiction affects it. It therefore has no other choice but to act in response to the fundamental requirements facing it. It must defend and promote its interests so as to ensure that Québec society develops as best it can and to assume its responsibilities as a credible modern state capable of sharing its concerns with other states.

Of course, it must also affirm the values which historically have shaped it and made it unique; it must affirm its own identity as-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would the only Francophone state in North America.

To affirm its existence, Québec must take an increasingly prominent place on the international stage so that it can have an influence and act in an increasingly effective way in international agreements and negotiate favourable agreements in its areas of jurisdiction.

States are bound to play a prominent role in international forums where the rules of international trade are established. In the case of the World Trade Organization (WTO), these rules apply to all countries, regardless of their size or power. The states must adjust their operations to the pressures imposed by agreements which will increasingly affect not only international trade, but also the so-called trade-related sectors of culture, Crown corporations, agriculture, fisheries and labour law.

The Bloc Québécois supports the efforts the Québec government has made to induce the federal government to allow Québec to occupy all the space it will need in the various international forums to defend and promote its interests. The Québec government must be involved at all stages leading to-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would the signing of international agreements, that is the negotiation, implementation and administration of those agreements.

The Bloc Québécois intends to participate fully in an offensive to inform the world of Québec's views, defend its interests and promote its values. In the wake of the leadership displayed over the past few years by its foreign affairs and international trade caucus, it is also recommended that the Bloc Québécois establish a foreign affairs committee. The missions of the two bodies will be to cooperate in the Bloc's international activities outside Canada involving diplomats on postings and foreign dignitaries visiting Canada and Québec. The committee will work in close cooperation with members of the Bloc Québécois' parliamentary wing.

D.2 VALUES WE MUST PROMOTE (back to top)

By taking charge of its own mechanisms for representation in international organizations, Québec will contribute to international diversity, the kind of diversity it has -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would made a part of its society and which is based not only on arts, literature, lifestyle, fundamental human rights, but also on the value systems, traditions and beliefs of a people. Once again, we have no doubt that this will help resist the standardizing trends that have characterized the turn of the century and promote cultural diversity in the world. Here again, as the only Francophone society in North America, Québec can make its mark.

The Bloc Québécois supports the efforts of the states for which culture must have special status under international trade agreements, a status determined by rules set down in an appropriate international instrument.

Peoples have necessarily become interdependent and that independence must now be managed and completed. However, environmental, social and human rights interdependence remains to be developed, and this must be done with other defenders of freedom.

Freedoms are not limited to those guaranteeing the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. The search for freedom, the concern for sharing, justice and its tradition of cooperation predisp-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ose Québec toward being a true defender of these values and of the importance that will be attached to them in international discussions and agreements.

The Bloc Québécois believes that negotiations to establish rules governing global or continental trade must include the negotiation of social and environmental clauses. For example, the principles of a clause on labour rights could be defined on the basis of compliance with the seven fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which brings together the governments, employers and unions of the member countries. These conventions concern the abolition of child exploitation, protection against forced labour and slavery, but also pay equity and non-discrimination in employment, the freedom to form a union and the right to collective bargaining.

The Bloc Québécois believes that all international negotiations must be conducted with the necessary degree of transparency so that the populations concerned can understand the issues and influence the results. In this context, the Bloc Québécois demands that the federal government introduce a process to consult civil society on the major issues that will -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would be addressed during these negotiations in a manner consistent with the authority and responsibilities of the Government of Québec.

The Bloc Québécois undertakes to consult the social players in Québec, including international cooperation organizations, and to take action to ensure that the Canadian government's proposals in these international or continental negotiations are presented to the public and that the debates are conducted on these major issues.

D.3 SOVEREIGNTY, A MODERN PLAN (back to top)

Where a draft international convention concerns an area of Québec jurisdiction and the implementation of that instrument in Canada requires the provinces' consent, Canada is forced to consult the provinces and to ensure that they will implement its commitments. Where Québec has managed, with considerable effort, to participate in the work of an international organization in an area of its jurisdiction (which in practice depends on Ottawa's good will), its representat-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ive is a member of the Canadian delegation and thus unable to speak freely on behalf of Québec. In particular, he may not express an opinion that is different from, contrary to or which dissents from that of Canada.

Far from making sovereignty irrelevant, globalization makes it even more urgently necessary. The centralization of decision-making and the standardization of policies advocated by the federal government in response to globalization force Québec to make its own voice heard in international forums.

In all other areas discussed within the international organizations which are vital to its economic, social and cultural development, Québec does not have a say. It must resign itself to applying rules determined by others, in its absence, without it being able to express its vision of the world, its ideas and its values or to defend its interests.

In the case of the WTO, every member is fully responsible for taking all measures to ensure that regional and local governments comply with the provisions of the agreement within its borders. If, for example, Canada were unable to act in a manner -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would consistent with the outcome of negotiations on education or culture, because those fields are strictly speaking provincial jurisdictions, it could be subject to retaliation or lose benefits provided for under the WTO Agreement.

Recent examples of Canada's behaviour assures that Québec would be better off on its own. Consider the asbestos case, in which the Québec government and the Bloc Québécois unsuccessfully demanded for a year and a half that Ottawa file a complaint before the WTO tribunal against the unilateral embargo by France. What is there to be said about the Canadian government's attitude in the last round of GATT negotiations, when it hesitated to mount a vigorous defence in support of an article fundamentally important for the Québec dairy industry, the number one sector of Québec's agri-food industry, thus favouring Western Canadian grain exports? Not to mention the fact that the federal government's behaviour in the MIA negotiations was denounced both in Québec and in Canada. The Bloc Québécois deplored the entire agreement, which undermined Québec's economic, social and democratic interests.

The Bloc Québécois undertakes to promote the Québec government'-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would s participation in a new round of WTO negotiations and in those concerning free trade for the Americas.

At a time when its future and the future of its culture are at stake in Geneva, Washington or Brussels, Québec is excluded from negotiations and the Québec government does not have a say in the matter. International issues place governments in the front ranks in multilateral discussions. To ensure they have democratic control over this international play, citizens must control their own government.

Not only is Québec not a player in the new twinning of country and supranational organization, which holds real powers, but it is losing and will continue to lose its prerogatives, jurisdictions and rights as new international rules are implemented following negotiations. The Québec state now has only one choice: either fight to the bitter end to maintain powers that are ever reduced and increasingly shared with the federal government, or achieve sovereignty and, by taking an active part in globalization, finally becoming an international player capable of defending its interests, a full-fledged member of the international community, its organizations and authorities. On -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would its own, it could then create alliances useful to its social, cultural and economic development within, among other things, the international Francophone community. Being sovereign would also enable it to manage its resources and the environment more effectively.

E. BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS: A STRUCTURED ACTION PROGRAM (back to top)

Analysis of the factors involved shows that Canada and Québec are developing along parallel lines and have fewer and fewer common points. The new realities created by trade globalization require Québec to speak out on its own as the future of the world is being built.

What emerges from the forums and workshops which the Bloc Québécois organized in the spring of 1999 is a desire to continue building an original society in Québec: an open, democratic and progressive society. In many respects, as noted above, Canadian federalism raises a major barrier to the achievement of our legitimate objectives. Now more than ever, Québec sovereign-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ty is a response to the challenges raised to us by a changing world.

The Bloc Québécois will continue its efforts to bring together the conditions for a winning referendum on sovereignty by, among other things, leading discussion on Québec's identity, struggle against exclusion and international relations.

E.1 THE SOVEREIGNTIST PRESENCE IN OTTAWA (back to top)

Until sovereignty has been achieved, the federal scene in Ottawa will be a prime battlefield. This is the Bloc Québécois' domain.

The only concern and purpose of the Bloc Québécois' representatives in Ottawa is to defend Québec's values and interests and to promote sovereignty. The Bloc Québécois will continue to intervene in all areas where Québec's interests are at stake, denouncing political encroachments in Québec's areas of jurisdiction, fighting to recover our fair share of structural public spending, constantly monitoring -Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would the situation to preserve the social and cultural choices made by Québec, which wants to promote and reinforce the original model it intends to build in America.

The sovereigntist presence in Canada's Parliament has corrected a democratic deficiency which had lasted decades. The idea of sovereignty has long found broad support among Québeckers, nearly half of whom expressed that support in the last referendum. The Bloc Québécois' legitimacy is based, among other things, on that support.

It is only since the Bloc Québécois has been in Ottawa that Québec's true aspirations have been heard there. One need only remember the Bloc Québécois' actions at the time of the government's reference to the Supreme Court in 1998.

Considering Ottawa's means and the consequences that federal decisions can have on all aspects of our collective life, there is no need to prove the relevance of a sovereigntist presence. It is still essential that the voices of Québeckers who aspire to sovereignty be heard every day outside Québec.

In view-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would of how important the issues are for Québec's future and the extent of the resources available to the federal government and its allies, the Bloc Québécois asks its members to step up their efforts to prepare for the impending political deadline, be it an election or a referendum.

E.2 STRUCTURED ACTION (back to top)

Québec sovereignty will be the result of the commitment of thousands of Québeckers in all sectors, both in political parties dedicated to its achievement and in society in general, where community groups, union organizations and coalitions of all kinds will demonstrate the need for sovereignty.

Since the efforts of every individual are essential, Québec sovereignty will result from the mobilization of all components of Québec society. The Bloc Québécois calls for the largest possible coalition of sovereigntist partners, which must include civil society.

The Bloc Québécois i-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would s a party deeply involved in the fight for sovereignty. The demands of democracy force us to continue our struggle, encouraged by the last referendum in 1995, which nearly enabled us to achieve this goal which remains the purpose of our existence.

Ottawa is methodically preparing in the hope that it can once again ward off sovereignty. The financial resources involved are enormous. The federal government has an extraordinary propaganda machine funded in part by Québeckers's taxes. The Bloc Québécois is not the only group involved, but it must assume its own responsibility for occupying the federal ground, its policies and debates, so that Québec's interests are constantly defended, and the Bloc must do this in a visible manner in every riding in Québec in order to neutralize the federal propaganda machine.

To pay its role adequately, the Bloc Québécois must be able to back its convictions. It must find a way to fight on equal terms. This does not mean that the Bloc Québécois alone will succeed in breaking down the barriers raised before the sovereigntists. However, it is essential that the Bloc Québécois, as a party, acquire the necessary resources to assume its respons-Canadians, Louis-Hypolite Lafontaine asked them to accept the legislative union of 1840 in order to form an alliance with the reformers of Upper Canada and, in particular, to obtain responsible government and official language status for French on the same footing as English. In 1848, responsible government became a reality and French was recognized as an official language.

Since there was no longer any common objective, the political parties split and Canada under the Union became ungovernable since no party could win a "double majority". In 1864, George Brown announced that the Clear grits, who held the majority in Upper Canada, were prepared to support any party ready to transform the legislative union into a federal union and replace equal representation in the House of Assembly with proportional representation. The result was the grand coalition of 1864 which led to the adoption of the British North America Act in 1867. Cartier's Bleus supported the plan because, in their view, federal union was the best way to protect the French language and Catholic religion in Canada East. They saw it as a "pact between two nations", where Dorion's Rouges were completely opposed, viewing union as a "disguised legislative union" which would ibilities as best it can on the battlefield which the political situation has given it.

A strong, structured, dynamic Bloc Québécois with resources enabling it to back its claims and in a position to assume all its responsibilities is an exceptional instrument enabling the Québec people to achieve our goal, which is the sovereignty of Québec.