Mr. Speaker, I stated unequivocally yesterday that mutual assistance between regions was an inherent part of the Canadian confederation. And, yes, helping a province or region through difficult times involves using taxpayers' money.
Let us not forget that Quebec's equalization payments come from the taxes paid by Canadians, as does the financial support to Quebec's aviation industry.
Looking at how Canada builds its strength, the hon. member should know that the regions are there to support one another. Therein lies Canada's strength, and it will continue to be a building block for Canada.