Mr. Speaker, a news release from Standard & Poor's brings the federal government back to reality.
Federalists say that there will be no negotiations following a declaration of sovereignty? Standard & Poor's thinks otherwise. Federalists say that economic ties between Canada and Quebec will suffer? Standard & Poor's says that they will be maintained. Federalists are talking about a ruthless breakup. Standard & Poor's says that negotiations will take place in a climate of responsibility.
In addition, the firm expresses confidence in Quebec's approach, and this is reflected in the bond market, where there has been an upswing in the performance of Quebec government bonds.
The markets are putting to rest the federal government's campaign of fear. It is high time that the government faced up to the inevitable and began to prepare for Quebec's sovereignty.