Good afternoon, minister, Mr. St-Jean and Mr. Wouters.
I have several questions for you.
A debate has been going on since the seventies in the Ottawa area. In 1983, Cabinet decided that 25% of all federal positions in the Ottawa-Gatineau area would be located on the Quebec side and 75% on the Ottawa side.
I could provide you with a copy of a study which has been tabled here — you may not have received it but the previous minister did — indicating that about 7,000 positions are missing on the Quebec side to implement that 25-75 rule.
We've heard the comments of Mr. Baird and Mr. Fortier but I would like to know the position of your own officials on the steps that will be taken to ensure that justice is done in this matter.