And Ontarians. The member for Carleton—Gloucester, who is involved in this movement, also recognizes the importance of co-operatives for the survival of the French language. It played a large role in the survival, and I do mean survival, of the French language throughout Canada.
Lévis is the site of the Conseil de coopération du Québec. It is also the site of the headquarters of the Federation des coopératives en alimentation du Québec. There are several other federations, service co-operatives, including the federation interested in social economy, with headquarters in Lévis.
All this to say that, with the presence of the Mouvement Desjardins and the 2,000 employees working at the headquarters of the various Mouvement Desjardins institutions, Lévis can lay claim to being the co-operative capital of Quebec.
As the member for this riding, I therefore have no choice but to speak to this bill. One aspect that struck me in committee, because we are at report stage, was that, as the member for Carleton—Gloucester mentioned, there is what I would describe as a remarkable climate of co-operation among committee members, thanks to those influenced by representatives of the co-operative movement.
There are two large groups of co-operatives in Canada. There is the Conseil canadien de la coopération, which covers the francophone community and which has representatives in all the provinces of Canada except Newfoundland. There is also an equivalent organization for the anglophone community across Canada.
What we noted, and I also want the House to know this, is that the representatives of these two councils appeared together, side by side, before the committee. They came to testify and to submit their briefs while pursuing the same objectives. They showed solidarity, and I concluded that it would be possible, with people who have an open mind, to work co-operatively.
My colleague for Carleton—Gloucester might not like what I am saying, but this is proof of the value of the idea that the Bloc Quebecois and the sovereignists of Quebec are proposing to all of Canada, that is an open hand. It would be possible to have a partnership that would be useful for everyone if each of the parties made the effort and if they were confident in the efficacy of such a process.
I would like to point out that when people co-operate, francophones and anglophones, they discuss on an equal footing. We have always insisted on that.
So I wanted to take this opportunity to point out this example of co-operation that these people are providing us. I consider it unfortunate, at this stage, that there were two amendments introduced this morning, especially Motion No. 1, which limits the role of board members in relation to what can be decided at a meeting, as the member for Mercier clearly explained.
Except for that, the Bloc Quebecois reiterates that it supports the bill. We supported all the amendments that were proposed and the points of view provided by the witnesses who appeared before us. So we will continue to show co-operation by voting in favour of the bill at third reading.