Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Amendment BQ-7 seeks to increase the number of regions, to open up the list of regions in the bill. The regions are all oil-producing regions, unfortunately. The problem is that the entire resource sector is experiencing a downturn, including the mines in Abitibi. The situation is no better on the North Shore. From what we can see, that is not the only economic sector that is not doing well. Given the energy the government is putting into killing the aircraft industry in Quebec, things may get very difficult indeed, including in my own riding.
The amendment proposes that we eliminate the list, which is closed, and that we add regions as need be. The regions that are on the list are all outside of Quebec.