Mr. Speaker, I took note especially of the part of the hon. member's speech which dealt with the question that has been on the minds of most Canadians over the past few months. It is the question of Quebec separation and its impact on the small business community in Quebec. I thank the hon. member for his comments on that. They made a lot of sense.
The fact remains that in an independent Quebec it would be a lot more difficult for small business people. Certainly the surveys that have been conducted throughout the referendum bring this to light.
In a survey that was conducted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of people who create the jobs in Quebec, the small business people, almost two-thirds, 64 per cent, of Quebec businesses believe that Quebec's economic prosperity would be diminished under separation. A strong majority, 55 per cent, believe that the business relations and trade with the rest of Canada would worsen under separation. More than a majority, 53 per cent, of Quebec businesses believe that their benefits and profitability would diminish if Quebec voted yes.
In another public opinion survey almost all the respondents, 93 per cent, expect long and difficult negotiations with the rest of Canada in the event of a yes vote. More than four out of five people, 83 per cent, think that Quebec's separation from Canada would have a negative impact on Quebec's economic development.
There is another survey of small business owners. Almost two-thirds of the small business owners in this survey chose Canada. They felt that the best route, the best way for their own economic prosperity would be through staying in Canada.
I think back to my own experience in a rural part of our country. I know the hon. member is from a big city and talked about the banks in the big city. In terms of small business people in rural Canada, obviously farming and farmers are a critical component to the small businesses in rural Canada and rural Quebec also. The whole question of supply management and where that goes in a separate Quebec is a major question.
These people should not be fooled. We brought in supply management a number of years ago with the support of Quebec farmers who were a major part in getting that. The whole concept behind supply management is that we are able to protect the local market, our current market under GATT and international rules. If Quebec becomes a separate country that will not be the case. They will not be able to protect that market.
Today in the industrial milk area Quebec holds about 47 per cent of the Canadian market. It is a very important aspect of it. The hon. member knows that. It would be folly to say to Quebec dairy and supply managed farmers that they would be any better off in a separate Quebec. In fact the whole nature of it would fall down. Granted, it would not only hurt Quebec dairy farmers, it would also hurt Canadians.
I ask the hon. member if he is aware of these statistics and these polls. Is he aware of the fact that the majority of Quebec's small business people feel that they would be much better off in Canada?