Mr. Speaker, I was listening to my colleague’s speech but it seems to me that she is more the one who is turning her back on Quebeckers by presenting the two parts of this motion today and voting against the budget. I find it hard to understand how she can oppose a budget that increases equalization payments to Quebec by $8.3 billion. That is a 70% increase. It is unprecedented.
Since the Conservatives have been on this side of the House and put an end to the Liberal cuts that were closing beds and hospitals in my riding of Lévis—Bellechasse, equalization has increased like never before. So my colleague is now opposed to that. Is she not turning her back on the Quebeckers she represents when it comes to equalization?
I would also like to know what she is doing for businesses in Quebec. There are a lot of them in my riding and I am sure there are a lot in hers too. These businesses need to be able to access financial markets, especially in times of economic uncertainty. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development tells us that it is hard for Canada to be as efficient as possible and there is a danger that companies will decide to issue securities in other countries because of the inherent inefficiencies in the various commissions’ limited enforcement powers.
Whose interests is my colleague serving? Are there interests here that I cannot quite make out? Who is going to serve the interests of Quebec businesses? Would she not prefer to get on board and support a budget that is good for businesses that want to be able to access financial markets?