Mr. Speaker, it is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and the same goes for Bill C-71. Indeed, the government's intention to fight tobacco use is a good and even excellent idea.
But what a useless and disastrous mistake it is making by seeking to essentially prevent tobacco companies, which are the only ones willing to do so, from sponsoring sports and cultural events which are part of Quebec's heritage and which are vital to its economy. The major rallies held yesterday, including in Montreal, conclusively show that the public is opposed to the bill.
To be sure, the Minister of Health is ill-inspired when he gets it in his head to protect our health. A few months ago, he wanted to prevent us from eating camembert cheese. Today, he is targeting our merchants, our athletes, our artists, and our cities' finances. What can we do to bring the minister to his senses?