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in Canada.  We are hoping that this Conference will make substantial progress in this task.  The logical next step would be to consider some of the central organs or institutions of government that have a particular relevance to the nature of our federalism:  the Supreme Court and the Senate would seem to us to be of first importance in the constitutional review.  In the light of these considerations, and perhaps of a study of the basic objectives of our federation that might be incorporated in our Constitution, the Conference could move on to attempt to remove what is out-dated in the Constitution, and to give a more modern statement to those aspects which clearly can be modified.  Subsequently, we suggest, should come the examination of the relations of governments and the statement of their powers.  It seems to us proper to put this item as a later one for the reasons we have expressed.  The powers of government and their allocation can be considered with confidence only when one has determined the substance of the rights, objectives and relationships within which and for which the governments should operate.  Another reason for keeping that aspect for a later stage is that the Conference will, in the earlier stages of its discussions, inevitably identify and clarify many of the problems that must be taken into account when one comes to adjusting the powers of government as between the federal and provincial governments.  The Conference will be able to work with more certainty and make adjustments with more confidence once it has carefully discussed the many problems that will be found to lie in a re-statement of the relationships and purposes we want to embody in our Constitution today.

This is the kind of framework and the kind of sequence that we would propose as appropriate if it is agreed that a comprehensive constitutional review should be undertaken.  Every government represented at this Conference will recognize the importance of approaching these discussions with understanding and with a common concern for Canada’s future.  Our responsibility will be to represent Canada.  In any differences we may have over the jurisdiction of governments we must not forget that we are all here to serve Canadians.  Each citizen of Canada is represented by two governments, the federal and the provincial.  Both governments speak for the same citizens in each province.  Our objective will be to develop constitutional arrangements which will not only protect the rights of individual Canadians but will enable governments, who share the responsibility of governing, to act in the best interests of all Canadians in whatever part of this country they have the privilege to live.

 
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