Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade.
On February 14, I asked the minister why he had approved a $60 million credit for the construction of a new aluminium smelter in South Africa, when this plant will be competing directly against Canadian producers.
The aluminium industry is very important for Canada, especially British Columbia and Quebec, since almost 10,000 people are employed in our ten smelters. These plants are located in Shawinigan and in nine other ridings represented by members of the Official Opposition. In recent years, hundreds of Quebecers-