Mr. Speaker, these are hard times for economic development in the regions of Quebec.
For example, in the North Shore region, Wabush Mines laid off half its workforce indefinitely in January. We learned this week that Alcoa would cut the hours of employees at its Baie-Comeau plant by 15% in response to the global economic slowdown. The forest industry, which is also in crisis, is important in my region as well.
Even before this economic crisis, employment in the North Shore region was declining significantly each year. Unfortunately, that decline could get worse.
Instead of helping the regions of Quebec, the Conservatives have cut funding for CED and refused to invest heavily in forestry, limiting assistance to $170 million over two years for all of Canada.
What a mess the Conservatives have made.