Mr. Speaker, once again, we hear nothing but demagoguery from the opposition. It says that everything will turn out all right provided that Quebec becomes an independent country. But we must still recognize the following in the railway situation and the jobs that it represents for Quebec.
For instance, CN pays more than $500 million in salaries and benefits in Quebec. There are more than $300 million in purchases, more than $100 million in taxes, more than $100 million in pensions and benefits. Also, we should not forget that CN maintains almost 8,000 jobs in Quebec and that 30 per cent of all CN employees are in Quebec.
It is a fact that 68 or 70 per cent of senior executives are in the province of Quebec. To talk about the Constitution and tell us that Quebec's sovereignty is the only way for Quebec to pull through, particularly in rail transportation, is really giving a strange spin to the debate. I have asked the hon. member to advise his headquarters that we are ready to negotiate, to work as a true federation.
I must remind the member that the Canadian federation is a resounding success. You should explore this issue with a little more thoroughness and honesty, and try to back away from separatist and sovereignist partisanship, which does nothing to help the future of CN and transportation in Canada, particularly in Quebec.