Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister sent an important message to the 1,500 people who came to hear him, in Montreal.
The Government of Canada will take the opportunity provided by the upcoming first ministers' meeting to fulfil a major commitment made in its last speech from the throne and confirm the federal government's withdrawal from several areas that come under provincial jurisdiction.
Without going into specifics, the Prime Minister said that the federal government will first withdraw from the following sectors: mining, forestry, municipal affairs, ports and airports, as well as manpower training.
The Prime Minister said it in Montreal yesterday; our government will fulfil its commitments towards the provinces, and Quebec in particular. We can only hope that the PQ government in Quebec will accept our offer to become more involved in the process.