Mr. Speaker, with respect to the high-speed train, I must point out that such a train will link France and England. I do not think it will stop in the middle of the Chunnel for a passport check.
Assistance to independent workers has been cut. I think it is unfortunate because this program was very beneficial to some workers. I could add that, a month ago, my city of Jonquière became a designated area under the independent workers assistance program. We can say it is great and congratulate one another, and I think all the local people were glad, except that we and Sherbrooke have one of the highest unemployment rates in Quebec.
We had large paper mills. We had the Alcan plants. We were clearly well off economically and, 10 or 15 years later, we have become a designated area and we are forced to accept with pleasure for the time being but after we take control of our own destiny, we will certainly do what is needed to escape the poverty the federal system has plunged us into.
However, for now, we must say that we are very glad to have a good program, as my colleague from Bonaventure was saying earlier, except that there is a 27 per cent unemployment rate in his riding, so I hope he will tell his unemployed constituents that there is a new dryer and that a subsidy has been granted to Rimouski. Everyone must be happy, the subsidy machine has come through.
The people of the Gaspé and the Lower St. Lawrence have been subjected to planning experiments for many years and have benefited from federal programs which were scrutinized by everyone but, after 20 years of work and of federal and Liberal subsidies, they still end up with a 27 per cent unemployment rate.
So there is nothing new under the sun. They boast about federalism and theorize but when we go see the people on unemployment or on welfare-go ahead and laugh but these people may be at home watching us and shaking their heads.
They say it is very nice. There is a nice post office with a nice red flag in my village but I am afraid that-