Mr. Speaker, this week is National Volunteer Week. According to a study carried out in August 1994 by a polling firm for the Fédération des centres d'action bénévole du Québec, almost 64 per cent of the population of Quebec did some volunteer work during the last 12 months.
Therefore, the federation urges governments, institutions and large companies to become more attuned to the financial needs of volunteer organizations and strongly encourages them to support volunteer work.
The Bloc Quebecois considers most unfortunate the government's decision to cut $1.5 million from grants to community organizations. Grants to women's groups have dropped by 31 per cent in the last 6 years, and the money saved may have gone to more crucial budgets, like the budget of the Council for Canadian Unity or the free flags program.