Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the Prime Minister refused to take part in a four-way public debate on the political future of Quebec and asked the official opposition to give him one good reason to vote Yes on October 30. Here is one good reason among many others, and I am referring to Ottawa's ongoing under-investment in research and development spending in Quebec, which is otherwise a preferred way to create new jobs. I may recall that Quebec receives only 18.6 per cent of federal funding, as opposed to 50 per cent for Ontario.
My question is directed to the Prime Minister. What explanation does he have for the fact that the federal government is depriving Quebec of its fair share of research and development and has done so for nearly 20 years?