Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, I sent my constituents a householder denouncing the U.S. Army's plan to widen the St. Lawrence Seaway, a plan the Government of Canada obviously supports since a feasibility study is already underway.
In the riding of Verchères—Les-Patriotes alone, more than 800 people have already reacted by sending me a reply coupon expressing their strong opposition to this plan, which will have a catastrophic impact on Quebec's economy and environment.
Big ships—many more of which would be able to sail between the ocean and the Great Lakes—would stop unloading their cargoes in Quebec ports since they would be able to go directly to ports in the U.S. and Ontario. Moreover, this plan would increase shoreline erosion and wreak havoc on fragile ecosystems.
I am demanding that the federal government take a stand with the Bush administration and ensure that the plan to widen the St. Lawrence Seaway never sees the light of day, period.