Mr. Speaker, we were very surprised to hear that Quebec's Minister of Finance completely changed his mind last Monday about assuming a share of the debt if Quebec separates.
Minister Campeau stated that an independent Quebec will not be forced to accept something that undermines its economic development especially because "it is not our debt, it is Canada's debt".
The minister's recent statement basically contradicts a statement he made in 1994, that Quebec was worried when it saw the cumulative national debt reach $550 billion as of March 31, 1994, because Quebecers have to pay 25 per cent of it.
The uncertainty created by such statements can only undermine the efforts of those who are working hard for the country's economic recovery.