Mr. Speaker, as the year draws to a close, it is time to take a look at the Conservatives' record. They have wreaked havoc on eastern Quebec.
There is the upcoming closure of the employment insurance processing centre in Rimouski, which will result in the loss of 37 jobs, and its relocation to Thetford Mines for no reason, which was decided behind closed doors.
There is the closure of the ecotoxicology department at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute and the firing of its eight researchers, as well as the pending closure of the Maurice Lamontagne Institute library, which serves UQAR, ISMER and other research centres. It is the only French-language science library specializing in marine sciences.
There is the closure of the Canada Revenue Agency office in Rimouski. Its three employees will no longer be there to serve the public.
In addition, Lake Témiscouata, the Neigette River, the Trois-Pistoles River and all other waterways in the region will no longer be protected by the Navigable Waters Protection Act.
Lastly, with winter approaching, people with seasonal jobs in tourism, the fishery, agriculture and forestry are wondering if they will be forced to work an hour away from home and at 70% of their previous salary.
They have all fallen prey to the ideological and reckless cuts of a government that bandied about the slogan “Our regions in power”, but which seems to be doing all it can to impoverish them.