Hon. Donald J. Johnston (Saint-Henri-Westmount):

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the-

Hear, hear!

Mr. Johnston:

I hope the answer will merit as much applause, Mr. Speaker.

My question is directed to the Deputy Prime Minister. The Senate has now adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of a proclamation to amend the Constitution as prescribed by Section 47 of the Constitution Act of 1982, as the Deputy Prime Minister knows. There is no requirement in that Section that the resolution be the same as the one adopted by this House.

I ask the Deputy Prime Minister, why has the Government today, as a matter of fact, given notice that it will introduce the same resolution as that passed in the House last October, instead of trying to work out a consensus resolution with the Senate?

Hon. Ray Hnatyshyn (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada):

Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Member for Saint-Henri-Westmount will understand that, in the House of Commons, the resolution respecting the Meech Lake Accord met with overwhelming support. There was a unanimity on the floor of the House of Commons in respect of the Meech Lake Accord that was probably unparalleled in the history of constitutional amendments.

I do not wish to speculate in terms of what the Liberal Members of the Senate of Canada are up to. My only point is that we in this House ought to have the opportunity, at the earliest possible date, once again to stand in support of this historic Accord, so that we in Canada can again be united, with Quebec as part of our Confederation, and go on to a better Canada.

Hear, hear!

Hon. Donald J. Johnston (Saint-Henri-Westmount):

Mr. Speaker, I was not asking for a political speech; I was asking for an opinion on the legality of the procedure.

If the Minister of Justice were to take the time to study the provisions involved in this particular procedure, he would recognize that some day the procedure will be challenged before the courts, and until that time we will not know whether the resolution has been validly adopted. The Minister of Justice could forestall that possibility by immediately referring the issue of the procedure to the Supreme Court of Canada on a reference case.

April 26, 1988

Hon. Ray Hnatyshyn (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada):

Mr. Speaker, while I appreciate the suggestion made by the Hon. Member, 1 point out to him that we, as Parliamentarians, listened to the very best legal advice that we could receive with respect to the constitutionality of what we were proposing, and there was unanimous support for it.

After studying this matter in some detail, the committee was of the considered opinion that this proposal was fully within our abilities, and that in fact it was forward looking and consistent with the provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

All the concerns raised were considered on the floor of the House, and there was unanimous support for the resolution. It is now time for us to move forward on this matter so that we can get on to annual constitutional conferences, where we can deal with the issues which have to be addressed. For the first time we will have the opportunity, on an annual basis, to discuss the evolution of our Constitution, with the outcome being a better Canada.

Mr. Jean-Claude Malepart (Montreal-Sainte-Marie):

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Science and Technology. After a great deal of hesitation, the Government has finally decided to take part in the American space station. We in the Liberal Party, who were first to announce our support for locating the agency in Montreal, now believe that the Minister can no longer postpone announcing his decision.

Now that everybody knows the Liberals were first to announce their support for the space agency, could the Minister inform the House why he cannot announce right now that the space agency will be located in Montreal? Who in the Government is preventing this announcement from being made?

Hon. Frank Oberle (Minister of State (Science and Technology)):

Mr. Speaker, perhaps part of the reason is that we are getting so many conflicting reports from the Liberal Party as to where the agency should be located.

Mr. Broadbent:

Is that where you get your advice?

Mr. Oberle:

The Hon. Member for Ottawa-Vanier, for instance, has declared Ottawa as the proper place. The Leader

Oral Questions

of the New Democratic Party, yesterday, declared Montreal as the proper place for the agency.

At least he didn't say it should be in Oshawa.

Mr. Oberle:

I am still looking at Prince George as a possible site.

Oh, oh!

Mr. Oberle:

1 can assure the Hon. Member for Montreal- Sainte-Marie that the location will be announced in due course.

Mr. Jean-Claude Malepart (Montreal-Sainte-Marie):

Mr. Speaker, Quebecers are fed up with the Minister's shelly-shallying. What we want to know is this: Is the Government going to stop lying to the people? Will the space agency be located in Montreal, yes or no?

Hon. Frank Oberle (Minister of State (Science and Technology)):

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the Province of Quebec, the Montreal region in particular, is a very significant centre in terms of the Canadian aerospace industry.