Fifty plus one was sufficient enough a majority to bring Newfoundland and Labrador into the Canadian Federation but Official Opposition Leader Jack Layton's suggestion that the margin would suffice for Quebec to withdraw from Canada is meeting with strong criticism.
The NDP policy is a departure from the Clarity Act, which calls for a clear majority for sovereigntists before Ottawa would entertain negotiations allowing any province to secede.
The Prime Minister who brought forward the Clarity Act, Jean Chretien, says he is concerned and disturbed by the new direction being taken by the NDP.
Canadian Press is reporting that Chretien is calling on the NDP to clarify where it stands on Quebec Sovereignty. He also thinks that NDP members of the House of Commons need to come clean on their personal positions on the issue.
The author of the act, former Intergovernmental Affairs Minister and past Liberal Leader Stephen Dion is calling on all Quebec NDP members to declare their loyalty to Canada. At least three members of the caucus have declared that they are sovereigntist leaning.
The NDP's stance is a change. When the Clarity Act was passed in 2000, the NDP stood behind the law. NDP House Leader Bill Blaikie praised it as one of former prime minister Jean Chretien's main legislative achievements.
However, Jack Layton announced a change of course in 2004 when he promised to repeal the federal Clarity Act and recognize a declaration of Quebec independence if sovereigntists win a referendum.
It sounds as if Pandora's Box is about to plied open again just as the PQ are picking up momentum in Quebec. I see some storm clouds on the horizon.
This could be Layton's first big test, if he fails, where does it leave the country?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
No comments:
Post a Comment