Mr. Speaker, first of all let me thank the hon. member for Jonquière for her interest in the national highway system. I apologize for reading this reply in English but if I were to read it in French, it would take too long.
The federal government has recognized for some time that a significant additional effort will be required to maintain and upgrade Canada's national highway system.
As the minister stated in response to this question on June 4, the minister of transport for Quebec did not raise the question of funding for highway 175 during the Edmonton meeting, but he did raise the matter shortly afterward. Also he raised the subject of this highway in a letter dated May 27 in a broader perspective.
Transport Canada officials are presently looking at all the issues that were raised in the letter and the minister will be responding to that letter in the near future. In the meantime, the federal government will continue to work closely with all provinces, including Quebec.
If we succeed in developing a new funding program for the national highway system, highway 175 will undoubtedly be eligible for funding by the federal government if the Government of Quebec also agreed that it was a priority.
I would ask the member to convey my regards to my friends in Jonquière. I greatly enjoyed the month that I spent there.