Decision sends strong message to Canadians, Islanders and financial markets.
"Today's historic Supreme Court decision reaffirms a strong national vision and sends a much needed message of confidence to political leaders and financial markets about our nation's future," says Premier Pat Binns.
"Today's decision is a historic legal event that will affect the future of federal provincial relations for years to come," says the Premier. "Clearly, the court believes in the primacy of Canadian law to govern the future constitutional deliberations. This decision establishes a strong national legal precedent for the conduct of negotiations between federal and provincial governments."
On September 30, 1996, the federal government referred the question of Quebec's right to secede to the Supreme Court. In its referral, the national government sought clarification on: Quebec's right to unilaterally leave Canada under current law; whether Quebec has a right under international law to secede; and whether international or Canadian law would take precedence in cases of conflict, including a proposed secession.
Premier Binns notes the decision is of special interest to the Francophone community within PEI. A key portion of the decision states, "Since Confederation, the people of the provinces and territories have created close ties of interdependence (economic, social, political and cultural) based on shared values that include federalism, democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law, and respect for minorities."
All Canadians, including Islanders and Quebecers, are beneficiaries of this key legal decision says Premier Binns. "I am pleased the court focused primarily on the legal questions put before it and refrained from addressing broader constitutional questions best dealt with co-operatively by elected officials."
Premier Binns adds, "The court's decision will hopefully send a strong message to Quebecers about their role as full partners in Confederation and inspire a new sense of confidence in our financial markets. Notwithstanding how anyone may interpret today's decision, it is up to the rest of the country to continue reaching out to Quebec. Now it is up to Canadians and political leaders from across Canada to demonstrate to Quebecers that it is critical that Quebec stay in Confederation. We must continue communicating to Quebecers that the rest of the country understands and respects Quebecers' role in Confederation, their culture, language, institutions and unique history."
The Premier concluded that today's decision affirms that, "Canada is a family, with all of the benefits and support that a family gives, including family values. It is our collective challenge to ensure that the Canadian family stays together."