By The Canadian Press

GREENFIELD PARK, Que. - Prime Minister Stephen Harper painted himself as a Quebec nationalist on Tuesday as he took part in annual Fete Nationale celebrations.

He used festivities marking the provincial holiday to boast of his government’s record in recognizing Quebec’s place in Canada. “The true nationalists don’t shy away from reality, they want to improve it,” he told supporters at barbecue south of Montreal.

“True nationalists don’t want to destroy, they want to build. We (the Conservatives) are the true nationalists.”

Harper pointed to his government’s move last year to push a resolution through Parliament recognizing the “Quebecois” as a nation within Canada.

He also championed his government’s actions addressing the so-called fiscal imbalance and changes to education funding.

“I promised to practice an open federalism, a federalism that respects the autonomy of the provinces and the original principles of the constitution,” he said.

The federal Conservatives improved their fortunes in Quebec in the last election, but recent polls suggest Quebecers are wary of Tory policies in areas like the environment and Afghanistan.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe took advantage of the Fete Nationale parade in Montreal to call for more concrete actions recognizing Quebec’s nationhood.

He said last year’s parliamentary motion was a shallow move that hasn’t been backed by any program changes by Ottawa.

Duceppe was joined at the parade by his NDP counterpart, Jack Layton, and Parti Quebecois Leader Pauline Marois.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion took part in a lunch-time picnic in Montreal’s north-end.

Courtesy of:http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080624/national/harper_quebec