Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Last week in the House, the Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec confirmed that his strategy for regional development would be based on providing assistance to small business. After cutting the budget of the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec, the minister indicated that the new approach to helping small business would consist in providing consulting services.
Since the FORD-Q no longer has a budget for providing financial assistance to small business, will the Prime Minister admit that the Department of Industry, in other words, the minister responsible for regional economic development in Ontario, will now be responsible for the federal strategy for regional development in Quebec?