Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his comments on my accounting expertise even if I have been out of practice for the last ten years. The member says it shows. Perhaps.
When it suits them, the Bloc Quebecois often uses the same argument as the Reform Party on the national debt. They bring that argument forward in order to make their point. But the member knows very well that I am aware he has a sound economic background and is very familiar with the national debt system. We are not dealing only with the federal debt. Quebec, which is developing in all its splendour, also has a debt as do all
other provinces and even every country in the world. This is part of our system.
We might also show that the problem of the debt has played a role in the development of Canada and Quebec. We enjoy a high quality of life. For the second consecutive year, the United Nations have declared Canada the country enjoying the best quality of life in the world. Talking about our financial problems, I hope the member will also acknowledge the fact that we have the best system and the highest quality of life in the world. Those things must be said. The Canadian experience has not been all negative. It has been good to us. The hon. member talks about interest rates. He wants me to talk about economy and finance.
When I arrived to Canada in 1958-my time has expired but I would like to have two more seconds-Montreal was the metropolis of Canada. All the large companies had their corporate offices in Montreal. The people across have been trying to separate Quebec from Canada for the last 30 years and during that time, Montreal has lost its title of metropolis. It has become the metropolis of poverty.