John Ottenheimer is the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. He is aware that some people in this province are concerned about the falsified maps being produced and distributed by the Government of Quebec. He claims he wrote them - or something - but has provided no information on a response from Quebec - if there was one.
On December 14th 1999 - John Ottenheimer was the critic for Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Walter Noel here's the exchange in the House of Assembly:
MR. OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My questions this afternoon are for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. OTTENHEIMER: I know he is on top of his job, so therefore he must be aware of a new glossy brochure called The Territory and a new map of Quebec, produced by the Government of Quebec, which includes a large part of southern Labrador in the Province of Quebec.
Has the government protested this claim on our territory directly to Quebec and to the Government of Canada? I would ask the minister to table those letters protesting this act, along with the responses from both Quebec and Ottawa.
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
AN HON. MEMBER: (Inaudible) like to see your job description.
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
MR. NOEL: Come up to the office and I will discuss it with you any time.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the member well knows, the border between Quebec and Newfoundland is recognized by both provinces. We are content with the level of recognition that exits. Obviously from time to time some questions are raised by particular individuals. I am not specifically aware of the one that the member raises today. I will look into it and have a further answer for him in the near future.
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Member for St. John’s East.
MR. OTTENHEIMER: Following Question Period, I will e pleased to show both a map and brochure, one dated 1998, one dated 1999, both official government documents which make quite clearly the point that I raised earlier. It is a serious matter, I say, Mr. Minister. Quebec is building a legal case by openly claiming ownership of our territory. Every time our government fails to reject and protest Quebec’s claims, we build credibility for their case. Some court, somewhere, some time, may be influenced by the history -
MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!
The hon. member is on a supplementary; I ask him to get to his question.
MR. OTTENHEIMER: - of Quebec’s persistence in claiming our land and our failure to do anything about it.
I ask the minister: Why are you so silent, as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs? Why are you and why is this government afraid to stand up to the Province of Quebec?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
MR. NOEL: Mr. Speaker, our Province has not been silent on this issue when it has been necessary to be vocal, but we do not feel that it is necessary to be very vocal at this particular time because we think that the border is recognized by all Canadians, by the Government of Quebec. I think the Premier of Quebec, just a few days ago, indicated that the border between his province and our Province is not in question.
There is no serious disagreement about that border. From time to time the question is raised by various interests. From time to time we see certain publications that we would prefer would be printed other than they are; but, if we at any time feel that there is a serious issue that has to be dealt with, it will be dealt with. At the present moment we are quite content with the recognition of the boundary that exists in the country.
MR. SPEAKER: A supplementary, the hon. the Member for St. John’s East.
MR. OTTENHEIMER: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I say to the minister, he should really treat this issue much more seriously. Both of these official documents clearly speak for themselves. How can this government keep on doing business with a province that claims our territory, does not recognize our laws, has captured almost all of the benefits from our resources in Labrador, and uses its overwhelming influence in Ottawa to deny federal support for our rights and interests as a Province? How do you continue to do business in this manner, Mr. Minister?
SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!
MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
MR. NOEL: Mr. Speaker, I think that recent events will indicate that the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador is doing excellent business with the Province of Quebec. We do not feel that there is any credible question raised about the border. I will look into the couple of specific instances that the member has cited -
AN HON. MEMBER: Just to satisfy his mind.
MR. NOEL: - to satisfy his mind and to make sure that he has a peaceful and happy Christmas.
emphasis added to highlight certain statements..
MINISTER OTTENHEIMER - WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION?
4 comments:
Sue, the situation is the same as it always has been.
The boundary was decided in 1927 on the basis of laws enacted in 1763, 1774, 1809, and 1825.
The end.
If you think there is any more to that story, (a) go back to law school and (b) learn to read French.
Then you can consider the issue sensibly.
WJM - I certainly hope you are 100 per cent correct. But why is Quebec including part of Labrador's territory in Quebec's territory. According to current maps of Quebec that is the case. Why?
WJM - I certainly hope you are 100 per cent correct. But why is Quebec including part of Labrador's territory in Quebec's territory.
Quebec isn't "including part of Labrador's territory in Quebec's territory".
The Quebec government sometimes, by no means at all times, messes around with the portrayal of the Labrador boundary. It carries out no administrative functions anywhere in Labrador.
According to current maps of Quebec that is the case.
No, in SOME current maps put out in Quebec government publications — not all — the Labrador boundary is tinkered with.
What legal impact does this have?
NONE.
John Ottenheimer is SUPPOSEDLY a lawyer. He knows full well that the Labrador boundary is set down in, and protected by, the Canadian constitution.
It cannot be changed by a mere map.
If it can... then Newfoundlanders had better start worrying, hard, about decades worth of "provincial" maps that left out Labrador.
Why?
Because Quebec nationalists are just as deluded as Newfoundland ones.
Do you have any idea how it makes Labradorians feel to have nationalist Newfoundlanders and nationalist Quebecers bickering over your land like a couple, breaking up, arguing over who gets the dog?
WJM: Thanks
Post a Comment