Document Information

Date: 1981-04-16
By: Secretariat of the Conference, John Buchanan, Nova Scotia
Citation: Premiers Conference, Statement of The Honourable John M. Buchanan, QC, MLA, Premier of Nova Scotia, Doc 850-19/008 (Ottawa: 16 April 1981).
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PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA

STATEMENT

OF

THE HONOURABLE JOHN M. BUCHANAN, QC, MLA

PREMIER OF NOVA SCOTIA

PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

OTTAWA

APRIL 16, 1981

STATEMENT OF THE HONOURABLE JOHN M. BUCHANAN, Q.C, M.L.A., PREMIER OF NOVA SCOTIA, AT OTTAWA, 16 APRIL 1981.

MR. CHAIRMAN:

ON THIS HISTORIC OCCASION, I AM HAPPY AND PROUD TO SIGN THIS ACCORD ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF NOVA SCOTIA.

THIS DOCUMENT EMBODIES THE POSITION NOVA SCOTIA HAS AT AND SINCE THE CONFERENCE LAST SEPTEMBER, WHEN I URGED PATRIATION WITH AN AGREEABLE AMENDING FORMULA, AND IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, IN A RESOLUTION WHICH I HAD THE HONOUR IN THE NOVA SCOTIA OF ASSEMBLY, PATRIATION WITH AN AMENDING FORMULA AGREED TO BY A MAJORITY OF CANADA’S ELEVEN GOVERNMENTS.

THIS ACCORD SATISFIES THAT CRITERION: WE ARE GRATIFIED THAT THE ACCORD EMBODIES THE POSITION NOVA SCOTIA HAS TAKEN FROM THE OUTSET.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO COME TO AGREEMENT AMONGST OURSELVES ON THE VEXING PROBLEMS THAT FACE US. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OPTIMISTIC THAT CANADIANS ARE ANIMATED BY THIS SPIRIT OF CONCILIATION AND AGREEMENT.

IN OCTOBER 1978, WHEN I ADDRESSED THE FIRST MINISTERS’ CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE, THE FIRST THAT I ATTENDED, IN THIS ROOM, I EXPRESSED MY CONVICTION THAT THE CONSTITUTION OF CANADA WAS MORE THAN MERE WORDS WRITTEN ON PAPER. IT WAS AS I SAID AT THAT TIME “THE LIVING HEART OF THE POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL UNION THAT BINDS US AS CANADIAN”. AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, HERE IN THIS PLACE, AND AGAIN AT A FIRST MINISTERS’ CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE, I DECLARED MY CONFIDENCE THAT WE AS CANADIANS WOULD FIND A WAY OF AGREEMENT, AND THAT EVERY DIFFICULTY WOULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE OF SOLUTION.

MR. CHAIRMAN, OUR CONSTITUTION AS SERVED US WELL. BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM FACE CHALLENGES TODAY THAT OBLIGE US TO RE-EXAMINE OUR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND OUR PROCESSES OF GOVERNMENT SO THAT WE MAY BE ASSURED THAT THEY ARE APPROPRIATE TO THE NEEDS NOT ONLY OF TODAY BUT THE EXPECTATIONS OF TOMORROW.

CANADA IS A GREAT COUNTRY — WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO ITS GREATNESS. WE REGARD THE INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TODAY AS PROOF OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTRY WITH A COMMITMENT TO CONSTRUCTIVE GOODWILL.

WE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED TO COME TO AGREEMENT. AND WE HAVE COME TO A MOST SUBSTANTIAL AGREEMENT.

WE HAVE COME TO AN ACCORD THAT ENABLES US TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE A FEDERAL AND PARLIAMENTARY POLITICAL SYSTEM UNDER THE CROWN.

WE ARE TODAY TAKING A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS RENEWED FEDERALISM. WHAT THE EIGHT PROVINCES HAVE CONSTRUCTED ON THIS VERY HISTORIC DAY WILL SURELY ENCOURAGE ALL CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS. THE HARMONY WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUGHT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN US IN TAKING COUNSEL TOGETHER IN THAT CONSTRUCTIVE — AND VERY CANADIAN — PROCESS OF DISCUSSION, CONCILIATION AND AGREEMENT.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MY COLLEAGUES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR GREAT COUNTRY HAS AN INSPIRING AND MEMORABLE PAST.

OUR COUNTRY HAS THE EXPECTATION OF A GREAT FUTURE.

BUT OUR PAST WILL NOT LEAD US TO A REALIZATION OF THE EXPECTATION OF THE FUTURE THAT WE AND FUTURE GENERATIONS DESERVE UNLESS WE — TODAY IN THIS PLACE — ENSURE THE FUTURE BY OUR DEDICATED COMMITMENT.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE SUCCEEDED. WE HAVE TAKEN A GREAT STRIDE TOWARDS OUR FUTURE.

LET US NOW — ALL CANADIANS — MOVE WITH ASSURANCE, PRIDE AND RENEWED CONFIDENCE TOWARDS TOMORROW.

IT IS IN THAT SPIRIT AND WITH THOSE CONVICTIONS THAT I AM PROUD, AS A NOVA SCOTIAN, AS A CANADIAN, AS PREMIER OF ONE OF THE FOUNDING PARTNERS OF CONFEDERATION, TO SIGN THE ACCORD TODAY.