Mr. Speaker, the transitional measures for the Lower St. Lawrence and the North Shore will end on October 11. This means that, at that time, thousands more unemployed workers will be unable to qualify for employment insurance.
Given the conditions brought about by the softwood lumber crisis and the decline in tourism, among others, is the minister prepared to extend these transitional measures on which hundreds of families in the Lower St. Lawrence, North Shore and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean regions depend for their survival?