Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Prime Minister, I will direct my question to the Minister of Finance.
Reacting to the federal government's intention to reopen the drug patent law, the Quebec minister of industry accuses Ottawa of creating a climate of instability by threatening investments in Quebec. He says that a drug company established in Quebec has already postponed a $50-million investment in research and development because of the federal government's intention to review Bill C-91.
I ask the minister if he admits that the government's announced intention to review this law is already hurting high-tech investments. Does he confirm that, for lack of assurance from Ottawa about the law, a drug company established in Quebec has postponed a $50-million investment?