As we begin 1996, it seems an appropriate moment to think about the future, to think of the ways and means to shape the future of citizens of Quebec. Thinking about the future is a perilous exercise. Yet, no person who wants "le bien de la Cité" should avoid such an exercise. Shaping the future is an even more demanding exercise, inasmuch as it entails not only diagnosing the prenant and past, but also defining solutions for the future and participating in the implementation of those solutions to the best of one's ability.

Furtherrmore, shaping the future is, first and foremost, an exercise that requires the best human resources of a given society - its best minds, its best hearts, those willing to focus on the common good without ignoring reality.

It is with the leadership of the mind and of the heart, that one can succeed in shaping a better future. Are there indications of what a better future should entail and what steps are needed to shape such a better future?

A better future entails good governance and better economic, social cultural and constitutional government by and for the people.

Good governance and government cannot be achieved without an éducation system that allow good governance in all spheres of human endeavor. That is why the educational challenge is a precondition for good economic, social and cultural government.

Quebec's éducation system clearly needs a major overhaul. The décisions that will be taken after the Estates-General on Education have handed in their recommendations will certainly be the most decisive and long-lasting measures to shape the future of Quebee'

The blueprint for a better éducation system must provide a systein that encourages a culture of knowledge, where éducation starts at early stages in life and stimulates the pursuit of higher éducation by the greatest number, minimizing the temptation to drop out.

Reachinq out

Such an éducation system would be as accessible as can be in a free and democratic society, should place a high value on merit and excellence and ensure that students -as well as institutions themselves- have the means to pursue and provide for higher education.

Better éducation entails reaching out, crossing borders, learning many languages. Education must be outward-looking, comparative and modern in its reach: all Quebecers should be called upon to master three languages (French, English and Spanish) before they leave high school and should also benefit from an expérience of exchanges with schools in other parts of the world.

These measures and many others must be put forward rapidly. It is tirne for real decision-making in educational matters -décisions that wfll lead to or a more compétent and capable work-force, to better leadership and thus to better governance.

But the need for good government is also pressing and immédiate concern for those who intend to shape the future of Quebec now. No one should shy away from the fact that better economic governanceis the present key to such a better future.

There is an urgent need for a government that is economically and fiscally responsable. Tackling the debt and deficit problems and taking the necessary measures to straighten out Quebec's public finances is of the essence at this point., Governments have to maintain credibility among their creditors, notably the international creditors. The driving factor in these matters should be that it is only in a responsibly managed economy that citizens seeking employment will find jobs, that businesses -small, medium and large- will provide those jobs, and that both individuals and businesses will be willing to invest themselves in innovative research and development and other ventures to strengthen the economic basis of Quebec.

Give system ctedibility

Such a strengthening also requires a global fiscal pact that would allow the tax burden to be shared in a more equitable fashion. It would also look at the means to progressively reduce a burden that has become a disincentive for both the workforce and for investors in Quebec.

Better social governance means that our social programs provide the support required by those whose existence is fragile beause of unemployment, old age or a handicap. Revising and rethinking the social safety net should not be seen as an attempt to suppress such a net or as the sacrifice of those who really need support, but as a tool to give the system the credibility it lacks.

The reform of the health system, which is now under way, constitutes another avenue for better social governance. It is impérative that such a reform, and others to come, lead to décisions that will have been carefully prepared and explained.

It is especially in this area of social governance that the best minds and the best hearts will have to meet. It is through such reforms that we shall see if the path continues to lead toward an equitable, accessible and caring society, a society that can share wealth, ensure health, and thus value both caring and sharing.

A better future is also a future where culture is vibrant and cherished, where governments show a commitinent and a concern toward cultural creators and industries.

Even though at arm's length, the government has to be concerned about individual and collective cultural needs. It must provide the necessairy support for those who, through television, theatre, cinema, contemporary music, sculpture, painting or the protection our heritage, present a mirror image of one's society and its distinctiveness.

Cultural exemptions are useful and necessary in a globalizing world of entertainment, but the dynamism and outreach of our culture depends mainly on the priority it is given, on its place in the government discourse and on investment in cultural matters. Showing the priority of culture will encourage people to believe and realize that culture, like the economy, is a driving and compelling force in contemporary societies.

All the changes in governance in economic, social and cultural fields cannot be improvised or cannot be simply imposed on citizens. In this as in all other matters, the consent of the governed is essential. Summits need to be convened before,and not after, major changes are proposed to the "projet de société," as the prime minister of France has come to realize.

Such forums allow for debate -real, authentic and even adversarial debate- which good governance is also about. Such a debate could lead to an appreciable degree of consensus or could point to the need to consult the governed directly on, the choices to be made to assure better economic, social and cultural government.

Finally, in thinking and shaping Quebec's future, one would like to avoid discussing the issue of good constitutional government, of political structures and the effect they have on the ways and means to implement changes that would allow people a better future.

Yet in Canada the reality is that there are some structural impediments to real and authentic change. There are, I believe, two majorities, eàch in the process of nation-building-majorities that have conflicting views of where the decision-making power should be in all areas of economic, social and cultural governance.

In the past 35 years, attempts to reconcile these views have failed. There are no indications, when looking at the post-referendum debate in the House of Commons and the rest of Canada, that the gaps can be bridged. Quebec has exhausted its constitutional remedies and the rest of Canada is exhausted with the recurring and ill-perceived requests of Quebec for devolution of powers in all fields of governance.

Different format

Many Quebecers look forward to the day where such a diagnosis, however disconcerting it may seem to be, will be also made by other Canadians. We need to think about the way the rest of Canada and Quebec can continue to bind their futures, yet in a différent political format. In the recent weeks, there have been a few voices suggesting that the rest of Canada start to think how it should envisage its relationship with a sovereign Quebec.

Many hope these voices will multiply and look in good faith at the studies and blueprints for a continuing relationship that have emanated from Quebec.

The offer of economic and political partnership should continue to be the cornerstone of Quebec's plan for its political future, and should not only be studied in good faith, but scrutinized, criticized and commented upon to allow for some rethinking by sovereignists themselves on all aspects of the proposed economic and political partnership.

Energy and dynanism

There are many good minds and good hearts in Quebec and in the rest of Canada. There is a great amount of energy and dynamism to harness. Decisive signals and measures are needed for people to embark upon a journey of participatory governance and democracy.

There is a window of great opportunity in the next few months as a new premier takes office and renews the political personnel in Quebec City.

There is a great occasion, before the turn of the century, to pursue and build on a quiet and never-ending economic, social and cultural revolution, to bring such a revolution to its logical conclusion -sovereignty for Quebec- and to persuade the best minds and hearts in the rest of Canada that a new partnership is also the key to a better constitutional government for our lands, their citizens and peoples.