Mr. Speaker, Quebec came back from the first ministers' meeting on equalization payments unsatisfied.
For the umpteenth time, Ottawa said no to Quebec. Although Quebec is considered one of the have not provinces, it does not lack resources, ideas or bold projects, but is constantly up against a federal system bent on diminishing it.
Quebec's additional needs for equalization payments are the direct consequence of the negative impact of certain federal decisions.
For instance, closing Mirabel airport in favour of Toronto Pearson, or the double standard of supporting the Ontario automotive industry while refusing to do anything for Quebec's aerospace industry. Or the Borden line, which favours petrochemical industries in southern Ontario over the ones in eastern Montreal.
The Liberal MPs and ministers in this House who come from Quebec are keeping mum, faithful servants of the federal regime that they are. It is a sad spectacle.