Straight Talk

This text presents a collection of Stephane Dion's speeches from 1996 to 1998. Organized around four central themes, the book shows the breadth and strength of Dion's convictions. Dion believes that Canada is first and foremost a nation of caring people, in contrast to the image projected by the endless, dry constitutional debate. He argues that the melding of diversity and unity that is the basis of this nation is possible only because of the particular federalism that Canadians have invented. This federalism, however is far from perfect and it is the responsibility of government to continue to work to improve it, always remembering that its core must be the quality of service it provides to Canadians. The author believes that the Quebec question is not a constitutional question but one that concerns identity: many francophones believe that their identity and culture are not respected in the rest of Canada and see the anglophone majority as a force for assimilation, while many in other provinces feel that separatists do not share the same values of openness and tolerance. He believes strongly that the secession process the Parti Quebecois has proposed - effecting independence on the basis of incorrect legal theory, an unclear referendum question, and a majority of 50 percent plus one - is difficult to reconcile with democracy and raises questions that must be discussed openly and resolved democratically.