Mr. Speaker, this week is Co-op Week, and I am very pleased to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all co-op members in Quebec and around the world.
In this era of globalization, at a time when major corporations are streamlining their operations strictly for reasons of profits, co-operatives are viewed as an effective protection against desolidarization within the economy.
Throughout the world, an increasing number of men and women are turning to co-ops as a mean to reconcile economic development and solidarity.
In Quebec, there are co-ops in the agri-food, financial services, housing and work industries, and these employ tens of thousands of men and women.
Co-ops inform and develop, while promoting democracy and solidarity. Long live the co-ops.