Mr. Speaker, some team, some question, would you agree? The opposition is in fine fettle.
That being said, I think the hon. member mentioned that the government had the perfect vehicle for setting up a defence conversion program. That vehicle is referred to in English as the DIPP.
The DIPP is the Defence Industry Productivity Program. In the eighties the program had a budget of about $300 million. The Liberals have emasculated the program to the point that next year, its budget will be only $21 million. Actually, the Federal Office of Regional Development, the Department of Industry and the Montreal Urban Community have set up a joint task force which is to make specific recommendations on defence conversion. With the modest sum of $25 million, it would have been possible to conduct market surveys and help businesses
that are involved in defence production to go the route of conversion.
In conclusion, I will say that, in the end, defence conversion is a matter of political will. Today we have the tools to make this happen. However, this government is acting in a very hypocritical way, and speaking out of both sides of its mouth.
Do not despair, the opposition will be there to remind the government of its promises, and we will keep up the pressure on this issue.