Mr. Speaker, I have a few questions for my hon. colleague in the Bloc Quebecois.
A couple of years ago the PQ, under its current leader, did an economic study of the impact of separation on the people of Quebec. The study was commissioned by its current leader, Mr. Bouchard. It demonstrated conclusively that separation would dramatically and adversely affect the people of Quebec economically.
When that study came out it was forced under the carpet. The individual member of the PQ, an ardent separatist at the time, quit in disgust.
The member cannot sit in the House and talk about how well businesses are doing in Quebec. One needs only to go to Montreal to see the economic devastation wrought on that once beautiful, gorgeous and vibrant jewel in the crown of Canadian cities.
There are few points I would like the hon. member to think about and then to remark on after my comments.
Separation will adversely damage the economy and therefore the people of Quebec. Does the hon. member feel businesses in Quebec will have access to the SBLA if it separates?
Will he also comment on the fact that net flow of money does not go out of Quebec but into Quebec and therefore is a direct economic benefit to the people of Quebec.
When it comes to business, in North America who is our biggest trader? It is the United States. Of all countries between the United States and Canada, clearly the United States is more ethnocentric than Canada. If Quebec separates who will be its biggest trading partner? The United States. What language will they be doing business in? Will it be French? I do not think so? It will be English.
The impact of doing business, the economy, trade and social relations with people south of the border will not be a profound positive effect on the French language. It will be a profound negative effect on the French language. Therefore separation will not strengthen French within the province of Quebec. It will weaken it.
Does the hon. member think separation will improve the economic welfare of the people of the province of Quebec? Will it improve the business community in Quebec? Or, will separation remove the benefits Quebec currently has in Canada and therefore weaken the economy of Quebec and weaken the strength of French in Quebec?