Mr. Speaker, last week, the Commissioner of the Coast Guard announced the third change in eight weeks in the marine services rates. After each change, Quebec comes out a loser due to pressures from both Western Canada and the Maritimes.
Several representatives of the Saint Lawrence shipping industry criticize the lack of vision of the Coast Guard, which seems to view the Saint Lawrence as a mere regional terminal.
This latest decision is but one of the many irresponsible measures taken of late by the federal government against Saint Lawrence harbours. This reminds us of the imposition of the Borden line, in the 1960s, which contributed to the closure of several refineries in the eastern sector of Montreal and to the loss of thousands of jobs in the city.
Before making any decision on this issue, which might have a serious impact on many areas in Quebec, the fisheries minister must order a social and economic impact study.