It is rather strange to hear my Bloc Québécois colleague constantly repeating that this is interference in areas of provincial jurisdiction and that it makes no sense. The problem is that this is not mentioned in the Bloc Québécois motion. The motion does not specify that we must denounce the federal government's interference in areas of provincial jurisdiction.
Earlier, we moved a motion that read as follows: “Committee denounces federal government interference in provincial jurisdictions;”. Who voted against that motion? It was the Bloc Québécois. In its motion, the Bloc makes no mention of this brutal reality for the provinces.
If the Bloc just wants to hear from a minister, I understand that. I think that the Quebec lieutenant, who dreams of being the Premier of Quebec, will have to explain here what side he is on. Is he on the side of the centralizing government, or is he on the side of the Premier of Quebec, who must defend Quebec's interests?
This case is not theoretical; it is real. We believe that the Minister of Transport and Quebec lieutenant should appear before the committee, as well as the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. The latter actually did not appear before the Standing Committee on Natural Resources because the members of the Bloc Québécois and the Liberal Party of Canada did not want him to. That's too bad, since we could have done it then. I would add that the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry should also appear, as the study speaks directly to the impact this is having on the forest industry.
In my opinion, six meetings is very little for all these ongoing issues and for the 2,000 jobs that are directly threatened by this Liberal government.