Mr. Speaker, all of Canada's regions, without exception, benefit from the spinoffs of the official development assistance budget. The Government of Canada is not shy about drawing on the know-how of Canadians, who have both the necessary skills and the desire to contribute to the growth of a developing country.
Quebec has a wealth of such skills. It has always been committed to helping the most disadvantaged peoples. The Government of Canada is fully aware of this and regularly draws on this knowledge and goodwill in carrying out its assistance program.
This is how a number of Quebec companies have obtained contracts from the Canadian government enabling them to export their know-how. Permit me to name a few whose contribution is well known. They include the Société Vitronov of Montreal, which this year won the award of excellence from the Canadian Exporters' Association for an innovative project in biotechnology in Morocco. Other companies include SR Télécom, ADS Associés, Tecsult, to mention but a few.
The fact is that Quebec receives much of the spinoffs of Canadian ODA. Nearly 30 per cent of ODA procurement is done in Quebec. More than a third, 36.3 per cent, of contracts are concluded in Quebec.
Of the 45,000 jobs created in Canada by official development assistance, over 12,000 are in "la belle province".
Like other Canadians, Quebecers are opening up more and more to the world. They understand, as the century draws to a close, that the planetary stakes are so high we must pool our resources and strengthen existing partnerships.
The ODA program tries to resolve problems that present a real threat to security, both in Canada and in the rest of the world. The Government of Canada intends to continue to draw on Quebec know-how in helping to make the world a richer and a fairer place.