Mr. Speaker, today all of Quebec, from the premier to the entire coalition on education, has spoken out against the creation of the millennium scholarships.
As presented, these scholarships do not in any way meet Quebec's needs in the field of education. What is more, they penalize Quebec for its longstanding choice to keep tuition fees and student debt down to reasonable levels.
The education system in Quebec has suffered, and continues to suffer, from the deep cuts in transfer payments imposed by the federal government.
The federal government must allow Quebec to exercise its right to withdraw from the millennium scholarship program with full compensation, because investment in education in Quebec must be tailored to the needs Quebeckers have identified and not imposed unilaterally by a government anxious to enhance its visibility.