Mr. Speaker, there is an article in today's La Presse about a study done by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington
on the economic impact of Quebec's separation and its effect on existing trade agreements.
The author of the study starts out by announcing that an independent Quebec would have none of the rights and obligations resulting from Canada's membership in several trade agreements with the U.S. including NAFTA, the World Trade Organization and the Auto Pact. A Quebec separated from Canada would have to negotiate access to all these treaties.
This study confirms what our Minister of Finance recently said. An independent Quebec will have to renegotiate all international treaties it is already a part of because of its status as a Canadian province.
The price to be paid for the separatist obsession is much too high and, on October 30, the people of Quebec will say No.