‘The country must now demand more coherence from the NDP and its future leader’

Stephane Dion chastises the NDP’s approach to Quebec.

Just like the Bloc, the NDP would have Quebec’s Bill 101 apply to federal institutions, with no second thought about the negative impacts such a move would have on official language minorities across the country.

Just like the Bloc, the NDP would have Quebec’s representation in the House of Commons frozen at its present percentage. But at the same time, the NDP says it wants to correct the under-representation of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia while maintaining the representation level of the other provinces. Should Quebec’s representation go up in percentage without other provinces going down, the total would go over 100% — an arithmetical impossibility. Only in sports can one “give 110%.” No wonder the NDP refuses to release its numbers. That’s what happens when you try to please everyone without being honest about the consequences.

Just like the Bloc, the NDP argues that a majority of 50%-plus-one is the only valid rule in a democracy. Yet even the NDP requires a two-thirds majority to amend its own constitution.