Mr. Speaker, I may remind you once again that in October 1993, Quebecers and Canadians opted for a change, but especially Quebecers.
Before 1984, there were 74 Liberal members in this House, similar to the member I just heard. Today, Mr. Speaker, there are at least 53 members of the Bloc Quebecois who are prepared to rise in this House to condemn inequities. During the last election campaign to which the hon. member referred earlier, I followed him around for a few days, but he was always hidden away, while I was around his riding. I often went to L'Encan Lafaille et Fils.
I suggest the hon. member go and talk to the farmers next Monday, at L'Encan Lafaille in Coaticook, and ask them what they think of the Martin budget on agriculture. This guy does not have a clue about what is going on. He should go and talk to the UPA on Bourque Boulevard, just outside his riding, near Magog, and find out what the UPA in Sherbrooke has to say about the
Martin budget, especially the cuts in the dairy sector. He should read La terre de chez nous and find out what the farmers think about his government, and he will realize they are not very happy.
Why not talk to the farmers he did not meet during the election campaign, because he refused to have a debate? He does not talk about it, he tries to evade the issue, and when Quebec was represented by 74 members, 74 sheep, this attitude did a lot of damage. In concluding, I suggest the hon. member go to Bourque Boulevard. Next Monday, and if he does not know how to get there, I will go with him, he should go to L'Encan Lafaille, to talk to the farmers. Then he might realize what is really going on.
It is all very well to have a bunch of lawyers, but a bunch of farmers defended by farmers is even better. So I would urge the former president of the Quebec Bar Association to take a stand in favour of agriculture.