Mr. Speaker, I thank the members of the government party.
My colleagues and I have tried to demonstrate that private member's Bill C-369 is essential to the development of ports along the St. Lawrence and to the economy in general of cities on its shores.
We have also tried to show the House that this bill is not about playing politics, but about making it possible for the Quebec economy to develop, like all other areas in Canada.
I ask my colleagues across the way to forget about partisan politics for a minute-there will be time for that during the upcoming election campaign-and to treat this bill as a matter of conscience. Why stand in the way of an entire region's development for purely political reasons?
On behalf of the Bloc Quebecois and of the people of Quebec, who are served both by representatives of the Bloc Quebecois and by the other parties, I ask my colleagues in the House to allow this bill to go to a free vote. I ask the House for unanimous consent to put it to a vote.