alternative dug up

In the course of some thesis-related research I came across a constitutional preamble proposed by the federal delegation to a constitutional committee in June 1980.

It contained recognition of Canada's "distinct French-speaking society centred in though not confined to Quebec." Wordy, yes, but it hits on all fronts. "Nation" can be substituted for "society" without altering its meaning.

It says what Harper's motion wishes to say, without relying on a unarticulated redefinition of words like "Quebecois" and "Quebecker".