Certainly, the prospect is plausible, both because the economy is growing fast and because Mr Jospin, despite his rhetorical insistence (repeated this week) that his is a reforming government, has clearly decided not to incite the public-sector unions, the Socialists' bedrock, by pushing too hard for the changes so badly needed in health care, taxes and education.

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His insistence that the First Nations would block a Pacific pipeline may seem rather disingenuous because recent Canadian experience suggests that with proper environmental safeguards and appropriate compensation, agreements can be reached.

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