Mr. Speaker, I would like to reassure my honourable colleague with regard to meeting with stakeholders in the Quebec aerospace industry.
I met with them in Edinburgh and London at a well-known annual air show where the world aerospace industry was present. I was able to speak with all players and representatives of the various industries, the Quebec association representatives and Quebec aerospace businesspeople. I met them again in Montreal at the Winter Aviation Ball held a few weeks ago. I am well aware of their expertise and their requests.
If I am asked to meet with them, I would be pleased to do so once again. I would like to say that, in my role as Minister of Industry, meeting with stakeholders in various industries is a priority for me.
As for my colleague, the member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, I am somewhat surprised by his position on military equipment and the purchase of said equipment because, on October 26, 2004, he voted against the Conservative motion to guarantee that the Canadian forces would be adequately equipped for war missions and peacekeeping. That was a motion moved by my colleagues and not supported by the Bloc Québécois, including the member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup. It is somewhat paradoxical because the Bloc Québécois opposes investing in the Canadian Forces and making military purchases, but it is in favour of economic benefits for Quebec.
I want to say that, on this side of the House, we support giving our Canadian Forces the best possible equipment so that they can do their job properly and we can meet Canada's international commitments. Furthermore, this is to be done with full respect for our industrial development policy, our policy on industrial economic benefits in Canada. That is a priority for us.
I am confident that all businesses in Canada working in the aerospace and defence sectors will benefit from these economic spinoffs.