Steelcitygrit [in exile]

Ruminating on all things Canadian and political.

 

Friday, November 24, 2006

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".

4 Comments:

Blogger PDO said...

I like your idea very much. It's preferable to the current motion. I'm actually having some second thoughts about a couple points which I'll deal with tomorrow or Sunday. You were definitely right about the need for more clarity.

I'm not so sure if it's redefining words as putting them in proper context.

8:56 PM  
Blogger SteelCityGrit said...

You're right - the challenge is less about redefining words and more about establishing a consensus about the meaning of words.

11:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dion has a good LTE in the Toronto Star this morning Manage symbolic politics better

I've also posted on clarifying the aims and objectives of the new motion at Murphy's Point...Words Do Matter.

Rural Ontario Liberal

6:20 AM  
Blogger Steve said...

The essential thing is also that it is in the preamble, rather than being an interprative clause like in Meech. In fairness to Ignatieff he has made clear his the supremacy of the Charter, as in this case, but not like with Charrollettown or Meech.

11:04 AM  

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