Mr. Speaker, as a Quebecker, I claim that Quebec is my backyard too.
With regard to the negative comments that the hon. member has made in relation to the interpretation of the Constitution, it is interesting to note that, had he read it, he would not have asked his first question. He would then have fully understood that regional development is not covered by the Constitution; therefore, the jurisdiction is shared.
Thirdly, he talks about textiles. Why doesn't he mention the fact that we have earmarked $26.7 million to maintain a program that we had already undertaken to help textile workers improve their performance and their ability to compete and find more profitable markets? They talk, we act.
There is one last thing I am quite interested in. These people live in the past. There is nothing I can do about that, I accept it, I have no alternative. We can choose between brooding over old quarrels and looking to what will be useful for the future of Gaspe, the Lower St. Lawrence, Sherbrooke, Montreal, research, the return of young people to their region of origin; all these are exciting plans for the future, plans that give hope.
Instead of confining myself to the nonsense of a misinterpreted past, I would rather focus on hope for the future of our youth and people in the regions. I will do it, with or without them.