Canada is the homeland of equality, justice and tolerance.
To suggest that Quebecers willingly give up the chance to exercise fully their influence within the federal government would be to betray the historical role Quebec has always played in Confederation, and to undermine the legitimacy of their pride and ambitions.
In all modesty, we must admit that governments are not always the best doctors when it comes to diagnosing economic ailments and prescribing the right treatment.
For too many, to work means having less income.
For people on social assistance, the loss of free dental care, prescription drugs and subsidized housing can greatly outweigh additional income from working. We've all heard the stories.
Governments allocate enormous resources for social programs. And it is true that for many years we have had one of the best social service systems in the world. Yet we are still incapable of meeting the needs of tens of thousands of Canadian families.
I believe it is time for new leadership that is able to leave the '70s behind.
I believe that Canadians have the common sense to see that a better future cannot be built on fragmentation.
Despite our high rate of unemployment, 300,000 jobs go unfilled largely because many of the unemployed lack the skills needed today as a result of technological progress.
For me, unemployment and poverty in the Greater Montreal area is not mainly a problem of structure, or design, or statistics. It is a profoundly human situation.
There is no greater honour than to serve Canadians.
An increasing number of Canadians must juggle the demands of work with the need to care for children, or for family members who are ill or too frail to care for themselves. Our programs have simply not kept pace with these societal changes.
I'd be prouder still to say I was Canada's 10th woman prime minister.
Canadians want to see real hope restored, not false hopes raised.
I know Quebecers don't want to relive old battles; they prefer to build for the future.
Our first Prime Minister saw a country that would be known for its generosity of spirit. And so it is.
Government cannot and must not replace private initiative.
For over 20 years, the federal and provincial governments have made enormous efforts employing a variety of approaches in an attempt to stimulate Montreal's economy.
It would be naive to imagine we have solved all our income security problems simply because the roles of the federal and provincial governments in the area of skills training have been clarified.
We have to define and put into practice a better, more coherent and effective policy on income security.
