Premier Philippe Couillard, visiting the Western Festival of St. Tite Sunday, confirmed that he wants Quebec in on the Canadian Constitution but denied that he's got his pen out and ready to sign on any dotted line.
Couillard surprised many Saturday by bringing up the possibility of Quebec joining into the 1982 Constitution in time for Canada's 150th anniversay, while speaking at a ceremony to honour Sir Georges Etienne Cartier alongside Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Quebec City.
But on Sunday he told reporters that he never even hinted that a Quebec signature on the document is imminent.
"I mentioned that Quebec is one of the founding people of Canada and we should pick up that theme for the 150th anniversary of Canada," Couillard told a reporter for LCN TV while visiting the bucolic festival.
"It's not a daily priority for us. Our priority is the economy," he continued before getting in a jab against the opposition Parti Quebecois, which was quick to leap on his statement and offer their own proposals Saturday.
"I'm touched that the PQ wants to participate in the renewal of Canada, it moves me deeply."
Couillard, a staunch federalist, says Quebec was one of the founders of Canada and that theme should be reinforced in marking the anniversary.
Quebec is the only province not to endorse the patriation of the Constitution in 1982.
Previous Quebec premiers have ducked the issue, fearing it would rekindle sovereigntist fervour.
Denis Lebel, Harper's political lieutenant for Quebec, says the Conservative government isn't interested in a constitutional debate and prefers to focus on jobs.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
