I certainly agree with Mr. Savage. In Quebec, over 1500 organizations have written to the minister, and they represent millions of people. These organizations have used student services during the summer and they also represent students. We have had an opportunity to hold press conferences with organizations in almost all the ridings represented by the Bloc. Forty organizations and students accompanied me to a press conference and testified about the value of this program. If any program is working well and achieving its objectives, it is certainly this one. A government study done when the Liberal Party was in power said that the program was meeting 95 per cent of its objectives.
It should be remembered that there are three objectives. First, to give students an opportunity to acquire work experience. Second, to allow students to earn some money to pay for their education. Third, to immediately start looking for areas of interest to them with a view to their future employment. This is quite a wonderful result. A number of students who came with us to the press conference said how helpful the program had been to them.
We must bear in mind what I just said. In the space of three weeks, 1500 organizations have written to the minister, and I have copies of these letters. The motion put forward by our colleague, Mr. Martin, comes exactly at the right time. I would have even included a date for a response, because we are in the time period for the calls for tender. Usually, calls for tender take place in December or early January. It is now February, and the calls for tender have not gone out, because even the minister does not know where he will be making the cuts. Once the call for tender goes out, a number of organizations and students will not be able to apply, because the deadlines will be too short. Consequently, it is urgent that we make a decision about this today.