Precisely. In Quebec, we want to avoid this at all costs, because clause 16 shows a blatant lack of understanding on the part of this government. It seems that the government does not even understand the strongest tendencies in the economy and in modern politics. The government should not go for concentration and centralization. Centralizing all federal, provincial, municipal and other purchases and sales in the country will not result in savings.
Such a move goes against the most elementary and basic rules of economy. This government proposes a bill, clause 16 in particular, which goes against basic economic rules. This is why the government and the people of Quebec are anxious to leave a regime which is headed the wrong way, as confirmed unequivocally by clause 16.
Despite all the representations made by the private sector and all the issues raised with members and the Minister of Public Works, there seems to have been no realization that perhaps this clause should have been deleted or even the previous legislation reinstated.
The consulting engineering sector suggested it preferred the previous act, because Bill C-52 which we are considering today gives the minister additional powers, powers that did not exist before. It is the only really new element in this bill. The rest is not new, just a bunch of provisions that have been revamped. However, this new element is almost an insult to the intelligence of people who understand the workings of our economy. It is a threat to an industrial sector that is thriving and highly specialized, and it opens the door to unfair competition and, once again, to even more patronage.
Clause 16 certainly does not encourage people who are the slightest bit familiar with the operation of the Department of Public Works to support this provision. In fact, Mr. Speaker, suggestions by the government that perhaps these overtures to the private sector should be made in consultation with the business community would actually make no difference at all.
This clause gives the government complete latitude to operate on the turf of the private sector, where it has no business to be, because, I repeat, this opens the door to patronage and is a threat to industries that, over the years, have developed an expertise that is appreciated and an expertise they want to maintain. The government has no business in this sector. And that is why we in the Bloc are opposed to this clause and to the government's amendment.