TORONTO -- Ontario would be willing to make concessions to other provinces in a new round of federal-provincial negotiations to build 'a new consensus in Canada,' Premier William Davis said Monday.
In a luncheon address to 1,500 at the Canadian Club, Davis made light also of speculation on whether he would seek the national Conservative leadership. 'I have no plans and my plan is to have no plans. Those plans have not altered even though the plans that I've not had are not those some people want.'
Aides had fuelled speculation Davis would join the leadership race when they said his luncheon address would deal with 'national concerns.' Davis said he has always treated the Canadian Club as a forum for 'national concerns.'
'Whether the issue is freight rates, energy pricing, transportation or export policy, there is much we can do in this part of Canada to ensure that the legitimate aspirations of all Canadians are recognized and we can do so without great harm to ourselves,' David said in his speech.
'We are long past the point in this country where we can afford to have government, business and labor, and indeed the regions ... so deeply engaged in conflict with each other the national interest is somehow overlooked.'
Davis said Ontario was willing to support changes in the constitution that accomodate Quebec's interests if Premier Rene Levesque's government agreed to join 'Canada's constitutional family.'
'I believe that reconciliation is such a fundamental priority for our country that we must commence -- immediately and in earnest - discussions that can lead to an arrangement whereby the government and the people of Quebec can feel at home within the Canadian confederation.'
He said if Quebec was prepared 'in good faith' to enter into discussions with the other provinces and the federal government he would be 'prepared to advance a position ... that will take into account some genuine concerns that are felt within our sister province.'
Davis outlined some concerns he felt contributed to 'negative perceptions of central Canada' in the western and Atlantic provinces.
He said the Canadian National Railway, CBC, Air Canada and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission were seen in the west as 'simple instruments of central power' while national tariff policies were viewed in the Atlantic provinces as a boon to central Canada at their expense.
Davis cited voting hours that make federal elections 'a fait accompli' before western Canadians have voted as 'a small frustration that we might find ways of resolving.'
'Whatever unity we have in this country, however deep its roots and all embracing its dimensions, that unity can only be made stronger when tempered with understanding, conciliation and compassion ... it is time to advance the Canadian dream,' he said.
Ontario Treasurer Frank Miller told reporters at the legislature he thoughtthere was a 75 percent chance Davis would seek the national Tory leadership, but suggested the premier had not yet made up his mind.
'I say I think he's going to run but I'm not sure he's decided he's going to run,' Miller said. 'I think everyone's assuming he has this plan, but maybe he's just trying to assess what he should do.'
He said the prospects Davis would make a bid at the mid-June convention had grown over the last few weeks.
