Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Péloquin, I am going to give you the opportunity to answer an intelligent question, based on facts. I found a letter from Anthony Pollard, the president of the Hotel Association of Canada, with whom I have had numerous exchanges. The letter was addressed to the association's members and was entitled "Canada's tourism industry is in crisis; plain and simple". After describing the cuts imposed on the Canadian Tourism Commission in recent years, he says:
“Due to lack of funding, the CTC has been forced to exit many markets including Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and major cuts in Japan and the United States. Quite simply, Canada is not keeping up globally.”
Mr. Pollard made comparisons internationally with respect to support for tourism. Canada has no reason to be proud. A simple state like Hawaii spends $73 million to promote its tourism around the world, while Canada spends $72 million. California, which has significant economic problems, dedicates $51 million.
Do you want to comment on that?