Mr. Emerson, I'm pleased to have this opportunity to speak with you.
I'd like to hear your views on the manufacturing sector. As you know, the manufacturing sector in Quebec lost 100,000 jobs between 2003 and 2006. Another 35,000 manufacturing jobs have reportedly been lost since January and February. Quebec has gone from a trade surplus situation of $7 billion in 2003 to a trade deficit of $10 billion in 2007. Moreover, Canada wants to negotiate bilateral agreements with Asian nations, with China and other countries. Where are we going with this?
We're in the process of offering up the entire manufacturing sector as a sacrificial lamb. We're talking about the furniture and textile industries and about other economic sectors that contribute significantly to the survival of rural communities. Many Quebec regions, and mine in particular, are directly affected.
The government is pushing the boundaries of logic even further by wanting to increase the number of agreements. One such agreement with Korea is imminent. The impact on the automobile industry has been evaluated, but again, the impact of that agreement on the manufacturing sector has not been weighed.