Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Dennison, I really liked your response to Mr. Dykstra's question. In fact, this is exactly how we talked about it this weekend at the Bloc Québécois' General Council. It isn't about making Quebec the gateway or the entry point to the Atlantic; it is about making it a component and making better use of the St. Lawrence River—in our case—which, in our opinion, is under-used, in particular regarding domestic cabotage. There is a lot of international shipping, but very little domestic cabotage. There is actually a perception that the St. Lawrence River is part of the Atlantic gateway.
Of course, the Bloc Québécois will not choose between Quebec, Montreal, Sept-Îles or other ports. As a result, your response was completely in keeping with this.
I wanted to ask you another question about equalization. After the promise he made to Quebec on December 19, Mr. Harper seems to be saying that until the provinces can come to an agreement on fiscal imbalance and equalization, he will not act.
He was in fact well aware, however, at the time of his promise, that there was dissension among the provinces. Do you think he is empowered to act on the issue of equalization, since it is a subject included in the Canadian Constitution and, as a result, is very clearly a federal responsibility?
I would like your opinion on this.