News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister Harper outlines his government's priorities and open federalism approach

April 20, 2006
Montréal, Québec

Speaking before the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper set out the Government of Canada’s priorities and its conception of open federalism.

“Canadians want their governments to work for them,” said Prime Minister. “They are fed up with the spectacle of turf wars and squabbling over money. They want their leaders to work together to deal with real-life priorities.”

The Prime Minister discussed the government’s priorities: accountability, accessible health care with reasonable wait times, greater flexibility in child care choices, safe streets and tax cuts.

The Prime Minister also defined his conception of open federalism in greater detail: taking advantage of the experience and expertise that the provinces and territories can contribute to the national dialogue, respecting areas of provincial jurisdiction, keeping the federal government’s spending power within bounds, and full cooperation by the Government of Canada with all other levels of government, while clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each.

“The truth is that Quebecers want neither the Liberal view of federalism nor the Bloc view of independence. They’ve had 40 years to adopt one or the other and they aren’t going to. Quebecers want a stronger Quebec in a better Canada. This is a message our government has heard. We are going to turn the page. Not just by rejecting separation but by changing the debate, changing the agenda and changing the federation,” explained the Prime Minister.


The Prime Minister added that he will tackle the fiscal imbalance as part of his open approach to federalism, a vision that combines the advancement of Quebec with the development of Canada.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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