Quebecers form a nation within Canada: PM[转贴]
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Tory cabinet minister quits post over
Tory cabinet minister quits post over Québécois motion
Last Updated: Monday, November 27, 2006 | 7:14 PM ET
CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's stance on the Québécois as a nation has cost him a cabinet minister.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Michael Chong has quit his post because of the motion, which would recognize the Québécois as a nation inside a united Canada. The motion has support from all four parties and is expected to pass in the House of Commons later Monday night. Chong is also Minister for Sport and represents the riding of Wellington-Halton Hills in Ontario.
"I'm resigning as minister so I can abstain from the vote tonight," Chong told reporters at a press conference Monday afternoon, reasoning that "recognizing Quebecers as a nation, even inside a united Canada, requires the recognition of [an ethnic nationalism] and I cannot support that."
Chong repeated his support for the prime minister and Conservative policies on crime, the economy and the environment and said Harper was "very gracious" in accepting his resignation after talking it over. He said he will stay on as a member of Parliament.
Independent MP Garth Turner, talking to CBC Newsworld by telephone from Ottawa, lauded Chong for "doing the honourable thing and reflecting the wishes of his constituents."
A staff member from the Prime Minister's Office told CBC that, "at the end of the day, some issues are more important than one person."
Tory cabinet minister quits post over Québécois motion
Last Updated: Monday, November 27, 2006 | 7:14 PM ET
CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's stance on the Québécois as a nation has cost him a cabinet minister.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Michael Chong has quit his post because of the motion, which would recognize the Québécois as a nation inside a united Canada. The motion has support from all four parties and is expected to pass in the House of Commons later Monday night. Chong is also Minister for Sport and represents the riding of Wellington-Halton Hills in Ontario.
"I'm resigning as minister so I can abstain from the vote tonight," Chong told reporters at a press conference Monday afternoon, reasoning that "recognizing Quebecers as a nation, even inside a united Canada, requires the recognition of [an ethnic nationalism] and I cannot support that."
Chong repeated his support for the prime minister and Conservative policies on crime, the economy and the environment and said Harper was "very gracious" in accepting his resignation after talking it over. He said he will stay on as a member of Parliament.
Independent MP Garth Turner, talking to CBC Newsworld by telephone from Ottawa, lauded Chong for "doing the honourable thing and reflecting the wishes of his constituents."
A staff member from the Prime Minister's Office told CBC that, "at the end of the day, some issues are more important than one person."
