Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of immigration.
Saturday's La Presse confirmed that the federal government mounted an exceptionally huge operation to award as many immigrants as possible their certificate of citizenship before October 20. However, on October 16, in response to a question by the Bloc Quebecois, the minister of immigration said, and I quote: ``What is being done with respect to citizenship processing in the province of Quebec is nothing different from any lead up to any provincial campaign''.
Given that the fears of the opposition are now confirmed, how does the immigration minister explain it as routine business? Was the government trying to hide this information?