Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here this morning.
The world recently experienced the Occupy movement which, I think, is a reflection of a considerable uneasiness about developments in our societies. All the statistics, even Canadian statistics, show that the rich are becoming richer and the gap between rich and poor is growing. This morning, after hearing the representatives of the cooperative movement and RDÉE, I want to make a wish. I'm going to ask you to cooperate because I believe the cooperative movement is a long-term solution to that uneasiness.
Yesterday, unfortunately, Parliament abolished a major cooperative in western Canada. The Conservative majority decided to put an end to the Canadian Wheat Board, which was a major blow. In the greater Canadian francophone community, I hope your two organizations can work together. Although this is something I haven't seen in the past, I am nevertheless going to make that wish.
I only have a little speaking time because I only have one opportunity to speak. This morning, I have to settle some administrative matters. Mr. Nadeau raised the topic of immigration. At the committee's last meeting, I said I intended to introduce two motions, which I have done.
The first resolution calls for the committee to adopt again its report on immigration that was prepared during the last Parliament and for which you played a considerable role regarding the situation in New Brunswick. I introduced that motion.
I intended to bring forward those two resolutions, as I said at the public meeting. What was to happen has happened, that is to say that the Conservative majority requested an in camera session. I made that statement during my speaking time. I'm doing the same thing this morning; I am repeating what I said at that time. As the committee meeting continued in camera, I cannot tell you what happened, but I can tell you the result of that in camera meeting: two resolutions were negatived, but I cannot tell you which ones.