The party is still seething over the Clarity Act, approved by the federal parliament in April.

ECONOMIST: Canada

His tough approach to separatism was codified last year in the Clarity Act, which erects big legal obstacles to any break-up of Canada.

ECONOMIST: Canada

For his part, Mr Clark is promising that a Conservative government would repeal the Clarity Act, which lays down broad parameters for a referendum on Quebec sovereignty.

ECONOMIST: Canada

After two referenda were held in Quebec - one in 1980 and one in 1995 - and after a painfully close result - 50.58% against versus 49.42% in favour, the Canadian Parliament passed a Clarity Act.

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It gave the Canadian House of Commons the power to decide whether a proposed referendum question was considered clear before any vote, to judge whether a clear majority for change had been expressed and to override a referendum decision, if it felt the referendum violated any of the tenets of the Clarity Act.

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In addition, we believe that the act provides sufficient clarity to allow us to evaluate the likely course of U.S. fiscal policy for the next few years.

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He has been put on key cabinet committees by Mr Blair to act as his enforcer against ministers who lack the required clarity of purpose.

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He says that the clarity of the law and the nature of the abuses legally forced him to act.

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