Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to make a general opening statement. I want to thank all the people who have come here as witnesses before our committee.
Just now, I heard my colleague Mr. McCallum say that we are in a full-blown recession. We also understand that, but I do not believe that this was reason enough to include in the budget measures that violate the rights of workers and of women. The budget could have been used to propose measures that would have truly fostered social housing and building new housing units on aboriginal reserves. That would also stimulate the economy. Really, further measures would definitely have been needed to further all of our aims.
First, I would like to put a question to Ms. Asselin. Members of the Bloc Québécois stood up in the House and decried the part of the 2009 Budget Implementation Act that violates the principle of pay equity. Conservative members often answered by saying that the new legislation that they wanted to see introduced at the federal level was similar to existing legislation in Quebec.
You mentioned the Pay Equity Act in Quebec and you said that it was proactive legislation. I would like you to give us further details about it. What are the differences between the bill that is currently on the table and the existing Quebec legislation? I do not think that they are similar.