Unity court

The Special Committee for Canadian Unity (SPCU) has instituted a civil lawsuit against the NO Committee, which opposed the sovereignty option during the 1995 referendum campaign. The SPCU charges the NO Committee with violating its freedom of expression by refusing to allow the formation of a sub-committee, and is suing the NO Committee for damages.

The suit has the potential to fry some big fish. As part of the preliminary proceedings, Quebec Liberal Party leader and former NO Committee leader Daniel Johnson appeared in court on Monday for closed-door questioning.

"We were gagged," says leader Keith Henderson of the Equality Party, which is part of the SPCU. "They don't want anyone to hear what we have to say." The SPCU opposes any unilateral declaration of independence and insists that if Canada is divisible, so is Quebec.

While Henderson said the lawsuit is intended to put the facts on the table, he also said an out-of-court settlement might be possible. "I can't speak for the Special Committee. We would have to consider it."