Quebec Premier Hints of Hope for Canada Pact

Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa on Thursday left the door open for his province to rejoin talks on Canada’s future, but he said he has not yet been invited to do so.

“We wish to develop within the Canadian federation--build Quebec without destroying Canada,” he told a televised news conference in his first public reaction to a proposal for sweeping constitutional changes agreed on late Tuesday by Canada’s nine English-speaking premiers.

Canada had eagerly awaited Bourassa’s response to the draft package that would give Quebec more autonomy and give real powers to the largely ineffectual Canadian Senate.

Bourassa said the proposals from the other nine provinces represent some progress toward resolving Quebec’s problems with English-speaking Canada.

But he said he is perplexed by certain parts of the proposals.

The main sticking point for French-speaking Quebec deals with a reformed Senate, which under the new offer would leave Quebec’s representation at less than 10%, compared with about 23% now.

Bourassa sidestepped the issue of returning to the bargaining table with the other premiers.

“If we are called to this meeting, at that time we will make a decision (on whether to attend),” he said.

Many political leaders and analysts said that the offer--reached after a marathon, last-minute bargaining session by the English-speaking premiers--contains the right foundation for a final agreement that will lay to rest fears of Canada’s breakup.

Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who cut short a European trip to return to Canada on Thursday afternoon, called a Cabinet planning meeting for today and is expected to invite the provincial premiers, including Bourassa, to a summit meeting.