Mr. Speaker, I was not sure I could take part in this questions and comments period. Thank you for recognizing me. I would just like to ask my hon. colleague a question.
She talked about poverty in general, mentioning Canadian unity and Quebec sovereignty of course, and finally, quoted the principle of strength through unity. That is a principle often quoted even in my riding. However, based on fact rather than principles, in 1980, the Canadian debt was approximately $90 billion and unemployment was much lower than it is today. In Quebec alone, there were half as many people on welfare in 1980 as there are now.
So it was decided in 1980 that Canadian unity should be maintained. Fifteen years later, the debt has skyrocketed to nearly $550 billion and will reach $700 billion in just a few years, we are told; it is growing very fast. Unemployment is not double what it was, but almost. We now have 808,000 people on welfare. During these 15 years, we have come to realize that the gap between rich and poor is widening. The middle class is disappearing before our very eyes. Could the hon. member please explain how the strength through unity principle applies in that context?