Mr. Speaker, I think the issue we are troubled with, and this has been a very troublesome debate in this regard, is that the initiatives that have been discussed have been supported by an unprecedented level of individuals. As I stated, all of the premiers supported financial initiatives as well as other initiatives at St. Andrews in 1997.
I really am at a loss to explain what the problem is, other than to say that we need to have some political leadership on the file.
I reiterate that this is a public policy initiative that was tabled at the conventions of the Liberal Party in 1993 and 1998. It is the very same wording. I am sure that every member of the House said that this was an issue which we have to re-visit. In fact, the member from Lévis said that this was a priority of the government as well. If it is a priority, then let us do it. A priority is something on which there is an intent to follow through.
A government that has too many priorities, by definition, has no priorities. What we are asking of this caretaker government is that it engage and do something with the industry. We have put forward four initiatives. The government should show the people that it is sincere about addressing this issue.
Governments have a role to support a tax regime when two regional economies have an indigenous advantage. We have ports, we have an ocean and we have access to those markets. All we are looking for is sound and viable access to our markets through trade and taxation regimes.