action. What we must discuss now are the steps we can take to handle this situation.
“First, I hope we can agree to put aside party considerations. I do not expect you to give up your right to quarrel with anything I do or say, but at this moment bear in mind that what I need is your advice and counsel, not criticism.”
George Foot immediately responded, “Prime Minister, there are many differences between us and there always will be, but in this situation my party will do its utmost to co-operate with the government.” Johnson and Walker made similar announcements, much to the relief of the Prime Minister.
“Thank you, gentlemen, I hoped you would agree. Now, to get down to business. I think it is obvious that Parliament must be recalled. I have already issued instructions that this step be taken and that emergency transportation be arranged under the direction of the Chief of the Defence Staff. I want every member of the House and Senate here in time for a briefing in the Commons at eight o’clock tomorrow morning. Following the briefing, which will provide information for the members on all matters relevant to Arctic development and the current energy crisis in the United States, the House should convene in emergency session at twelve noon. The Senate can sit at the same time, and I will ask the Government Leader of the Senate to make sure that the motion which is debated is exactly the same as the one the House considers and that no vote is taken by the Senate until the House has voted.
“We must conclude debate by five o’clock, so the vote can be completed by 5:15 to allow the Senate to vote by 5:30. I propose that the vote in the House be a free vote so that no one is tied to party lines.”
All three party leaders nodded their agreement.
“Good. The ideal thing would be for the four of us to prepare a motion and present it jointly to the House. The way we put it forward should be no indication whatsoever of the way in which any one of us is going to vote on the question. In introducing the motion I’ll make that perfectly clear.”
The Prime Minister was interrupted as Tom Scott quietly entered the room and handed him a note. Porter read it, whispered briefly to Scott, then carried on.
“If we open the House at twelve noon and commence the vote at five o’clock, that leaves just five hours for debate; actually, somewhat less than that, because I would like to have thirty minutes at the end to sum up and ten minutes at the beginning to get the ball rolling. Obviously we are going to have to control the number of speakers and the time for debate very rigidly. I would suggest that each of you take fifteen minutes and that all other speakers be limited to ten.”
Pierre Johnson broke in. “Good heavens, Prime Minister, in fifteen minutes I can’t even get started!”
His colleagues all laughed. Johnson was a notoriously long-winded though colourful speaker.
“Sorry, Pierre, this is one time when your eloquence will have to be contained.”
None of the other leaders had any objection to the proposal. The Prime Minister continued.
“I also suggest that the number of speakers from each party be in proportion to the seats in the House. If we four take a total of fifty-five minutes for our remarks, that brings us to 12:55. Between 12:55 and 4:30 there are 215 minutes. At ten minutes per speaker, that works out to twenty-one speakers, more or less. Based on the present proportion in the House, that should give us ten speakers from the government, six from the Opposition, three from the NDP and two from Social Credit.
“For myself, I would open the debate by putting forward the motion in our joint names, and take that opportunity to provide the House with the background of the President’s telephone call. Although this will have been extensively covered at the eight o’clock briefing, I think it should be repeated for Hansard.”
“That’s fine as far as my party is concerned, Prime Minister,” said George Foot. “But we would very much appreciate knowing something about the line which you are going to take at the opening. If you could let us have a brief sketch of your remarks, it would be helpful. We will then be in a position to prepare our speeches so they will not cut across your approach or be contradictory. If I have to take a position on any point which is contrary to what you say in your remarks, that would also give me the opportunity of letting you know before the debate starts.
“Let me put it to you another way. I’m personally most anxious that all of us in the House present a solid front to the Americans and to our own public, as far as possible, but at this moment I don’t know what the motion is going to be and I don’t know all the facts. So I can’t tell you now, Bob, what the final position of my party is going to be, or, for that matter, since it is a free vote, what my own position is going to be. However, as a matter of principle. I do feel very strongly that if Parliament can come out of this with a unanimous decision, or one which is close to it, it will strengthen Canada’s position in negotiating with the representatives of the United States in the future. To have Parliament split in a crisis of this magnitude would be a disaster.”
“I certainly agree, George. What do you think, Donald?”
Donald Walker had been the Leader of the NDP for many years. He had led his party in opposition to the building of the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline and the sale of Arctic natural gas and oil to the United States. Furthermore, he had encouraged his party to take a position of strong economic nationalism, and he frequently made heavy attacks on corporations under foreign control. For Donald Walker, this moment of confrontation with the United States was an event which he had long and eagerly anticipated. His grey, sallow face, topped by a thatch of white hair, reflected little emotion, however, when he said, “Prime Minister, you and all of Canada know fully the position which my party has historically taken against the export of natural gas to the United States and against the building of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. We have long expected that the American corporations, and the U.S. government, having failed completely to plan for their country’s future energy requirements, and having taken no steps toward controlling their escalating population, would inevitably take such a step. The New Democratic Party has few members in the House, but our voice is strong. I can tell you one thing, and that is that I will do my best to persuade my party to stand against this intolerable American threat regardless of the consequences.
“So far as I am concerned, the proposals for the briefing tomorrow morning and the handling and timing of the debate are satisfactory. Subject only to seeing the form of the motion you propose, I will be pleased to move it jointly with the three of you.”
The Prime Minister smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Donald. Your position is one which has not come as a complete surprise to me. Your willingness to co-operate is much appreciated.
“Now, Pierre, how about you?”
Pierre Johnson cleared his throat. “Prime Minister, so far as the arrangements are concerned, they sound fine to me. I am not going to say what my position will be until the debate. I want my own members to make up their own minds, since it is to be a free vote. I do feel that this is no time for Canadians to cling to regional or cultural differences, and I offer you my co-operation and my support.”
“Thank you, Pierre.
“Well, gentlemen, I won’t keep you any longer. I will try to keep you informed as matters develop, and to consult with you as the circumstances require. I have also asked the provincial premiers to be in Ottawa by six o’clock tonight. I feel that their views should be solicited and that they should take part in the decision-making process over the next few hours. I hope this meets with your approval.”
The other party leaders nodded their heads in assent.
“One
