[A-List] Layton regains senses after mild bout of anticolonialism

["Jim Yarker" <sjy_estrien@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

G&M

Layton changes course, says he now supports federal Clarity Act

STEVEN CHASE, BILL CURRY
Thursday, December 8, 2005
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MONTREAL, OTTAWA -- NDP Leader Jack Layton says he now backs the 2000
Clarity Act on secession, reversing a stand he took in the last federal
election campaign against a law much beloved by diehard Canadian federalists
and some in his own party.

"We would not repeal the Clarity Act," Mr. Layton told reporters, explaining
he favours the legislation in part because the bill and the premises behind
it are widely supported today. "It follows directly from the principles laid
out by the Supreme Court and has been broadly accepted across the spectrum
as a basis for proceeding," he said.

Mr. Layton said he disagreed with Parti Québécois Leader André Boisclair,
who recently said his future government would not be bound by the Clarity
Act should he become premier and launch another referendum.

The Clarity Act sets the terms under which Ottawa would negotiate the
secession of Quebec after a Yes vote in a sovereignty referendum.

Unpopular among Quebec nationalists, the law says a clear question and a
clear majority are required, but that members of Parliament will ultimately
decide whether these conditions have been met to their satisfaction.

Mr. Layton's move is the latest in a series he has made to distance himself
from unpopular positions that hurt his political fortunes in the 2004
campaign, when the 19 seats the NDP won fell short of party hopes.

This week Mr. Layton has pledged he would not be pushing for any tax hikes
in the next Parliament, a move that could help moderate the party's image
among voters, said University of Toronto political scientist Nelson Wiseman.
"He's removed a red flag for some voters."

Other 2004 items that have been cast aside include the party's much-vilified
proposal to tax inheritances over $1-million. In total last election, the
NDP proposed $45-billion in new taxes over five years, including raising the
corporate tax rate and a new profit levy on banks.

During the 2004 campaign, Mr. Layton said he would support abolishing the
Clarity Act because it only aggravates Quebec and "accentuates division in
our country." Back then, he compared it to the patriation of the
Constitution without Quebec's support.

That was a reversal of the NDP caucus's stand under leader Alexa McDonough
in 2000. Most of the caucus at the time, except Svend Robinson and Libby
Davies, voted for the bill.

Embracing the Clarity Act helps Mr. Layton among some English Canadian
voters and prevents rifts in the NDP such as those that appeared in the 2004
campaign, Prof. Wiseman said.

The Clarity Act question first arose during the first week of the 2004
campaign when Mr. Layton was asked during a French radio interview whether
he would like to see the Act abolished. "Yes. Because I find that law is
something that does not really understand the situation in Quebec," he said
at the time, before softening his words later that day.

Mr. Layton invoked the name of former Parti Québécois leader Lucien Bouchard
yesterday in explaining his change in position.

"We've looked at the [1999] Supreme Court decision, which laid out the
principles from which that act follows. And we've also noted that there is
wide consensus from Mr. Bouchard right on through to the federalist side on
those principles," he said yesterday.

While Mr. Bouchard did support the Supreme Court ruling, he was vehemently
opposed to the Clarity Act and described it as an "outrageous manoeuvre."

The Liberals were quick to attack what they called Mr. Layton's "flip flop"
on the Clarity Act.

"It's very hard to follow him. I don't know why he has changed his mind,"
said Liberal cabinet minister Lucienne Robillard.