Mr. Speaker, today, the Premier of Quebec and the Premier of Ontario stated that it was essential that the money be available immediately and that more money be added to these funds.
The Conservative government's initial response is not enough. The government needs to go further, quickly, so that the money can be made available as soon as possible to the municipalities and regions affected by the crises. This money should not be tied to the next budget.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance assure me that the government has moved on this and will make the money available and that it will table a bill in the next few hours or days to make that money available to everyone? The government must respond to the economic slowdown Canada is experiencing and the crisis in the forestry and manufacturing industries.
In December, the Minister of Finance was still saying that everything was rosy. He was wearing his rose-coloured glasses. In January, the government admitted that there was a problem. Today, the government has to admit that action is urgently needed now. The money must be available immediately so that the members of this House can discuss amounts—