Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister, since we haven't had time to speak yet, I would like to welcome you to Parliament and congratulate you on your appointment.
Over the past year, the credit rating agencies have downgraded four provinces that are experiencing a public finance crisis. They include your home province, British Columbia, for example, as well as Ontario and Quebec.
When the credit rating agencies increased the interest rates charged to the provinces on loans, they mentioned that there was no more money in the federal infrastructure transfer envelope.
It's all well and good to want to build houses, but if there are no sewer services or water infrastructure, as is the case in my region, the Laurentians, nothing can get built.
Have you personally asked the Minister of Finance to include a new envelope in his budget with no strings attached to fund infrastructure in Quebec and the provinces?