Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the throne speech, particularly to see whether the government would propose anything to improve the economic status of women in Quebec.
After listening to the speech given by the hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, I realize that I am not the only one who found nothing in the throne speech. Although I listened very carefully, there was absolutely nothing in the speech. Indeed, all this government has done is make pay equity a negotiable right, thereby undermining the status of women, rather than improving it.
How can this government justify ignoring the needs of over half the population and proposing nothing to improve women's living conditions, for instance, allowing female workers covered by the Canada Labour Code the right to preventive withdrawal from work or proposing real proactive pay equity legislation?