Mr. Speaker, if we exclude Ottawa, if we forget that Ottawa is in Ontario, if we overlook the fact that jobs created on the Ontario side benefit Ontario, that taxes are paid in Ontario, that contracts are awarded in Ontario and that research networks are created in Ontario, then he is right. However, Ottawa will not go away.
It so happens that Quebec receives only 13.8 per cent of Ottawa's research and development spending in its laboratories within the national capital area. Only 13 per cent is done in Quebec and the rest on the Ontario side.
Will the Prime Minister, and my question is directed to him since he is ultimately responsible-since he will not go on television, he can at least answer me here-will the Prime Minister-unless he sends his ineffable minister who just replied-will the Prime Minister at least admit that the federal government systematically discriminates against Quebec when distributing funding for research among its own laboratories?