Thanks to the stakeholders from the various sectors, university, social and scientific.
Funding requests come from all quarters, and this is a challenge. These shouldn't necessarily be seen as expenses, but rather as an investment. In the last budget, an $800 million amount was allocated to social housing, and SCPI program aid was increased by $147 million. The program was extended until March 2007, that is until the next budget. I think the minister is aware of these needs and of others, particularly as regard the $20 and $30 million amounts.
My first question concerns a project dear to the Quebec City region and is for Ms. Théberge. I've had the opportunity to meet Ms. Théberge, and I've supported her in her efforts for the Boîte à science project for a number of months now. I'm pleased to see that our colleagues opposite also support this structural project. This is an example of a situation in which the federal government must intervene; it hasn't done so in the past 13 years. How do you see the impact from this project for the Quebec City region, and how can the Boîte à science project be presented as a budgetary investment for the Quebec City region?