Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Finance announced when the budget will be tabled. One of the first things I will be looking for in the budget is a support fund for pyrrhotite victims.
Hundreds of families in the Mauricie region have been living a nightmare since they learned that their home's foundation contains pyrrhotite. The average cost for the repair work is over $200,000. A total of $1 billion will be needed to clean up the mess created by pyrrhotite in the region.
The federal government clearly has a role to play. It cannot abandon these families and should immediately change the quality standard for aggregates used in concrete.
I invite the minister responsible to come to Mauricie to see the extent of the damage. I hope that the government will take action on February 11 and offer assistance to pyrrhotite victims.