Straight Talk : Speeches And Writings On Canadian Unity

Dion, Stéphane

ISBN 10: 0773518568 / ISBN 13: 9780773518568

Published by McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1999

About this Item

The book is inscribed in French and signed by Stéphane Dion on the full title page. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item.

Seller Inventory # 015190

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Straight Talk : Speeches And Writings On Canadian Unity
• Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0773518568
• ISBN 13: 9780773518568
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)

About this title

Synopsis

So begins this collection of Stephane Dion's speeches from 1996 to 1998. Organized around four central themes, Straight Talk 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. Dion 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 fifty percent plus one - is difficult to reconcile with democracy and raises questions that must be discussed openly and resolved democratically. Straight Talk is a refreshingly honest and frank discussion about a matter that has been at the forefront of Canadian's thoughts for too many years.

About the Author

CA