Supreme Court Decision on Secession Reference

Nova Scotia Premier Russell MacLellan is reserving detailed comment on today's decision by the Supreme Court of Canada concerning the Secession Reference.

The court held that Quebec has no right to secede from Confederation either under the Constitution or international law.

"Obviously, this is a significant decision and one that we all hope will never be invoked," said Premier MacLellan. "But I haven't had the opportunity as yet to give it the full study that reasoned comment requires."

Premier MacLellan is currently vacationing with his family in Cape Breton but will be taking time over the next couple of days to review the decision.

"Regardless of the legal aspects of this decision, our continuing priority as provincial leaders remains for all of us, including Quebec, to continue to strive together as partners and make this federation work for all Canadians," he suggested. "We took a significant first step in this direction with the Calgary Declaration last fall, and more recently at the premiers' conference in Saskatoon with the social union negotiations toward greater co-operation in the development and delivery of social programs."