I'd like to point out that the Fédération des chambres de commerce represents all economic sectors. The manufacturing sector and the forestry sector account for only part of our membership. However, those members are mainly located in resource regions, in regions far from Montreal and other major urban centres.
Where the unions and our federation come together is on the issue of economic development. Support for regions, whether through the tax system, direct assistance or equalization, has always been around, in every country. The current hardship in the manufacturing and forestry industries is being felt in the regions; that's where things are heating up. Our members are asking us to watch out, because the future of our cities and companies and the survival of the regions are at stake.
In our opinion, we have to be careful not to wind up with companies only in the major centres. If we are to have a vision of economic development, social justice and so on, we have to come to the assistance of regions that are experiencing difficulties. The government fully understands their economic situation. These are often single-industry towns. If they are specialized in pulp and paper, and overnight they have to absorb the impact of the value of the dollar and foreign competition, we have a serious problem. We have to help them out with this.