Madam Speaker, when I arrived in Ottawa this morning, there were clouds in the sky. I saw the minister on those clouds and he has still not come down. This is why he cannot see what is really going on in Canada. He does not see it. This is unacceptable.
If I were the Prime Minister, I would soon summon the minister to my office and reprimand him. I would tell him, “Go tell Canadians that we have a problem and that we will fight for them”. He will realize that jobs have been lost. If he does not realize that, this is because he spends too much time in the United States and does not come back to Canada to see the negative effects this has. Furthermore, there is something lacking in the consultations with companies.
Hopefully, the minister will come to the House this afternoon to explain his mistake. Somebody is not briefing him properly. Either he is badly briefed or he does not listen to the radio, watch television or read newspapers. It is well known throughout the country that jobs are being lost. How can the minister tell us that this is because of modernization?
Where has he been this last year? It is a shame to have in this House such a minister who does not even know what is going on in our country, where people are losing their jobs.
I take my hat off to the member for Abitibi--Baie-James--Nunavik. No doubt he will have his knuckles rapped this afternoon. Someone will rap his knuckles and it is going to be painful.