[LINK] "Premier Couillard wants Quebec to sign Constitution by 2017"

[rfmcdonald]

This Canadian Press article certainly caught my attention, not least because of the decline in separatist influence in Québec it implies.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard took advantage of a public appearance with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to repeat his wish for the province to sign the Constitution.

Couillard said he wants Quebec to sign on by 2017, the 150th anniversary of Confederation.

The premier made the comments Saturday during a Quebec City speech, at an event commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Sir George-Etienne Cartier, a French-Canadian statesman viewed as one of the Fathers of Confederation.

Cartier’s vision for a united Canada that incorporates “a strong Quebec identity” could serve as an inspiration in future talks, Couillard said.

The Quebec premier made a similar commitment to the Constitution at the beginning of this spring’s provincial election campaign, but he then shied away from the idea after coming under heavy criticism from the Parti Quebecois.blockquote>