Stephen Harper published an article in today's National Post laying out his rationale behind his much-maligned "Belgium" plan for Canadian federalism. Good to see the Post give Harper this opportunity after they published piece after piece bashing the thing, despite the fact that no one knows virtually anything about it.
And a very important bit of news on this file went virtually unnoticed in the media today: one of the only people whose view on this issue actually matters -- Quebec Premier Jean Charest -- spoke favourably of it. According to a tiny brief buried in the Post:
OTTAWA - Quebec's Jean Charest is the only premier who has endorsed Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's plan to consider using aspects of Belgium's model of federalism as his blueprint for national unity in Canada.
...
"I'm supportive of the idea that we should be open to looking out at where (the) Canadian federal system works to make it as close (as) possible to our needs," Mr. Charest said prior to the first ministers meeting on equalization...
I have never been a huge Charest fan, and the wishy-washiness of the above statement is a good example of why. But if he's not dismissing Harper's trial balloon out of hand, it's a good sign.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 10:44 PM
