OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is poised to play a second national unity card by limiting federal spending powers in exclusive areas of provincial jurisdiction, CTV News has learned.

One option to achieve this goal is a constitutional amendment that would require the support of seven provinces comprising 50 per cent of the population, insiders say.

Talks are underway with key provincial governments, including Quebec Premier Jean Charest.

The plan is to prevent the federal government from launching new national programs without the consent of the provinces and any province could opt out with full compensation.

Insiders say a constitutional amendment would only deal with federal spending powers and would not lead to wholesale constitutional negotiations to get Quebec to sign on to the 1982 Constitution.

An official in the Prime Minister's Office would not confirm or deny the constitutional amendment proposal is under consideration.

Dimitri Soudas said Harper has always expressed the view that federal spending power should be limited within areas of exclusive provincial responsibility.

He said Harper would play the constitutional card when the "ground was fertile" but stressed he had no plans to reopen the Constitution for wide ranging talks such as getting Quebec's signature on the Constitution.

Insiders say the move to limit federal spending power would win favour in most of the provinces.

It would also give a significant boost to Premier Charest as he prepares for a spring election and boost sagging Conservative fortunes in Quebec.

Quebec has long argued that Ottawa cannot invade provincial jurisdiction without provincial approval and full compensation.

Harper also plans to unveil how Ottawa will provide one-off money to the provinces to address the so-called fiscal imbalance.

Insiders close to the federal-provincial talks say the Prime Minister may unveil his new unity proposals in a major speech on December 19th in Quebec City, the anniversary of his open federalism approach to Quebec that he delivered in the last election.

These moves fall on the heels of Harper's stunning move this week to present a motion to recognize Quebec as a nation within Canada.

The maneuver outfoxed Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe who had presented a motion to recognize the Quebecois as a nation.

Duceppe was furious at Harper's motion and vowed to vote against it.

He reversed himself a day later.

The phrase "within a united Canada" was meant to prevent separatists from using the motion for their own agenda, but Duceppe said recognition of Quebecois nationhood actually gave them another weapon.

"It's always better that when we're fighting for a sovereign Quebec that Canada recognize that Quebecers are a nation. That's a plus," Duceppe told reporters outside the House of Commons.

Agreeing to the language about being in a united Canada was simply recognition of the fact.

"It's more important to recognize the fact that the Quebec nation exists from now on," he said.

Friday in Commons, Duceppe declared: "Objectively, Quebec forms part of Canada."

"To serve Quebec's superior interest, I declare that the Bloc will vote in favour of the prime minister's motion," he said later outside the House.

Duceppe acknowledged the Bloc motion wouldn't be approved in the Commons, so he would opt for the next best thing.