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QJE913
QJE914 (041042)
CN HXA 660 CNT HALIFAX NS 4 1133A AST
HENRY F DAVIS, SECRETARIAT

CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE CONFEDERATION CENTRE OTTAWA ONT
FOR RELEASE 3 PM AST DEC 4/69

PREMIER G.I. SMITH SAID TODAY THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS -PROBABLY A GOOD THING THAT AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED TO HAVE THE DEC 8 – 10 CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE TELEVISED.

‘THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS,’ PREMIER SMITH SAID, ‘AND THERE IS VERY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE OF THE INTEREST OF CANADIANS IN THIS SUBJECT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE VIEWS OF THOSE IN OTHER PARTS or CANADA AND THE REASONS FOR THOSE VIEWS. IT MAY WELL BE HELPFUL, THEREFORE, IF FROM TIME TO TIME SUCH MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST.

‘TWO GREAT ISSUES WILL OF COURSE BE KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD BY MOST CANADIANS: THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL ASPIRATIONS OF FRENCH-SPEAKING CANADIANS AND THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DISPARITY ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLEX MATTERS WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ENOUGH PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THESE PROBLEMS WILL BE HARD TO RESOLVE AND MUCH TIME WILL BE NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEW WHICH MUST BE RESPECTED.

‘NOVA SCOTIA HAS HELD THE VIEW THAT IF WE ARE DILIGENT WE CAN FRAME A CONSTITUTION WHICH BEFITS THIS GREAT COUNTRY, THIS WILL REQUIRE COMPROMISES AND EVEN PERHAPS IN SOME INSTANCES, SACRIFICES.

‘WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN CANADA WITH A PRICELESS HERITAGE OF JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY EMBODIED IN OUR PRESENT CONSTITUTION AND IN OUR TRADITIONS. IT IS A HERITAGE WE SHOULD NOT LIGHTLY DISCARD. ON THE OTHER HAND IT IS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE THAT WE MAKE SUCH CHANGES IN THE CONSTITUTION AS WILL PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF NATIONAL UNITY AND THE PRIDE OF CANADIANS IN OUR COUNTRY.

‘THE RESOLUTION OF OUR PROBLEMS AND THE PREPARATION OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN WHATEVER FORM THEY TAKE WILL REQUIRE A GOOD DEAL OF TIME. OUR PROBLEMS ARE DIEFICULT AND COMPLEX. ‘THERE IS GOOD WILL AND DETERMINATION AMONG OUR COUNTRY’S LEADERS THAT WE SHALL PREPARE IN THE END A GOOD AND LASTING CONSTITUTION.’

-30-

N.S. INFORMATION SERVICE
(44).

HENRY F DAVIS, SECRETARIAT

CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE CONFEDERATION CENTRE OTTAWA ONT
FOR RELEASE 3 PM AST DEC 4/69

PREMIER G. I. SMITH SAID TODAY THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD THING THAT AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED TO HAVE THE DEC 8 – 10 CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE TELEVISED.

‘THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS,’ PREMIER SMITH SAID, ‘AND THERE IS VERY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE OF THE INTEREST OF CANADIANS IN THIS SUBJECT.I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE VIEWS OF THOSE IN OTHER PARTS OF CANADA AND THE REASONS FOR THOSE VIEWS. IT MAY WELL BE HELPFUL, THEREFORE, IF FROM TIME TO TIME SUCH MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST.

‘TWO GREAT ISSUES WILL OF COURSE BE KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD BY MOST CANADIANS : THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL ASPIRATIONS OF FRENCH-SPEAKING CANADIANS AND THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DISPARITY ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLEX MATTERS WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ENOUGH PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THESE PROBLEMS WILL BE HARD TO RESOLVE AND MUCH TIME WILL BE NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEW WHICH MUST BE RESPECTED.

‘NOVA SCOTIA HAS HELD THE VIEW THAT IF WE ARE DILIGENT WE CAN FRAME A CONSTITUTION WHICH BEFITS THIS GREAT COUNTRY, THIS WILL REQUIRE COMPROMISES AND EVEN PERHAPS IN SOME INSTANCES, SACRIFICES.

‘WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN CANADA WITH A PRICELESS HERITAGE OF JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY EMBODIED IN OUR PRESENT CONSTITUTION AND IN OUR TRADITIONS. IT IS A HERITAGE WE SHOULD NOT LIGHTLY DISCARD. ON THE OTHER HAND IT IS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE THAT WE MAKE SUCH CHANGES IN THE CONSTITUTION AS WILL PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF NATIONAL UNITY AND THE PRIDE OF CANADIANS IN OUR COUNTRY.

‘THE RESOLUTION OF OUR PROBLEMS AND THE PREPARATION OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN WHATEVER FORM THEY TAKE WILL REQUIRE A GOOD DEAL OF TIME. OUR PROBLEMS ARE DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX. ‘THERE IS GOOD WILL AND DETERMINATION AMONG OUR COUNTRY’S LEADERS THAT WE SHALL PREPARE IN THE END A GOOD AND LASTING CONSTITUTION.’

-30-

N.S. INFORMATION SERVICE
(44).